You know that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful concept, only to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I made a decision to switch my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in reality? It turned into among one of the most uncomfortable software program decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my business.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via precisely what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, extra reliable ways to expand your company. Just … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire come to life. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever before managed a Frankenstein pile of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you understand exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and enjoying it, truthfully), but still– I got tempted in by the guarantee of simplifying every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor case of shiny item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did whatever I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in position, and sometimes points took a few even more clicks than I liked, however hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Honestly, I just began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), used extra features, and all the awesome online marketers online seemed to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Cost Me to Switch
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and primarily attempting to duplicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Lots of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Customized kinds, landing pages, sets off … every little thing
Allow’s not also talk about the lost performance throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to determine where the heck standard setups were.
And just when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Sneaking In
Initially, every little thing looked alright. Yet after that, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started getting emails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m speaking completely unimportant messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at once. 3 days straight.
Total chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I got in touch with support. They condemned “server problems.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the issue didn’t vanish. Imagine awakening every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just frustrating– it threatens. When your entire brand name is improved depend on, you can’t manage to look like an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t expect excellence from any type of platform. Insects occur. Yet when they do? I expect the support team to step up fast.
That didn’t happen here.
Feedbacks were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting into deep space while my business melted. Meanwhile, every minute I invested repairing was a minute I wasn’t serving customers or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to severe entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before make use of a tool and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Funnel Builder.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in weird places. Even simple jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. Want to transform product settings, web page formats, and general flow? Awesome– you’ll require to quest via three various locations that make no rational feeling. Half the time, I could not even remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It seemed like making use of software developed by engineers, for designers– not everyday entrepreneur.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Obtained Real Expensive, Real Fast
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Sounds fantastic, appropriate?
Yet below’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment separately.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Funnel Builder
The final straw? Viewing my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points simply functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at hard times or not individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t staying to play detective while my checklist decomposed.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– right here’s what I wish someone had informed me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped concerning the most recent “advanced” tool. Yet just because everyone’s discussing something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a clean, instinctive interface will save you time and frustrations over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Hidden costs are the most awful. Pick tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your month-to-month costs.
4. Listen to Real Customers (Not Just Marketers)
Inspect unbiased evaluations, user discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual individual experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, easy to use system to run your company, I have actually examined a lot. Here are a couple of I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it simply works. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for little to mid-sized organizations with solid coverage tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for project administration, group collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may work for some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not operating in your existing configuration. Don’t melt your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thanks.