You know that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a great idea, only to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what took place when I made a decision to change my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became one of the most uncomfortable software decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my business.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through exactly what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, much more efficient means to expand your company. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream come to life. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Monster stack of devices simply to run your day-to-day, you recognize how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for several years (and loving it, honestly), yet still– I obtained lured in by the promise of simplifying everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad instance of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been broken. It did everything I required. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface really felt a little dated in position, and often points took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I just started wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), supplied a lot more features, and all the trendy marketing experts on-line appeared to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That inquisitiveness expense me greater than just money– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and primarily trying to replicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Personalized kinds, landing pages, activates … everything
Let’s not even discuss the lost productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the heck fundamental settings were.
And simply when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Sneaking In
In the beginning, every little thing looked fine. But then, out of no place, individuals on my listing began obtaining e-mails they weren’t intended to obtain. I’m speaking totally unnecessary messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals each time. Three days straight.
Overall mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I called assistance. They condemned “server issues.” However nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t vanish. Visualize awakening every early morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply annoying– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is improved count on, you can’t pay for to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I don’t anticipate perfection from any type of platform. Bugs occur. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up fast.
That really did not happen right here.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into the void while my company melted. At the same time, every min I invested fixing was a minute I had not been serving customers or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever make use of a tool and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel GHL-UI.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were hidden in unusual areas. Also simple tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. Wish to change item settings, web page formats, and overall circulation? Amazing– you’ll need to search with 3 various areas that make zero logical feeling. Half the moment, I could not also keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It felt like using software program constructed by designers, for designers– not everyday company owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Actual Costly, Genuine Fast
Let’s speak money.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Seems outstanding, best?
Yet here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Desire far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel GHL-UI
The final straw? Watching my email open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly missing. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Possibly the system was just sending out at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t remaining to play detective while my listing deteriorated.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– below’s what I desire a person had told me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped about the most recent “revolutionary” tool. However just because everybody’s talking about something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your present system is working, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly interface will conserve you time and migraines over time– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden expenses are the worst. Pick devices that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your monthly bill.
4. Listen to Real Users (Not Simply Marketers)
Check honest testimonials, customer online forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of real user experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, straightforward system to run your service, I’ve examined a lot. Here are a couple of I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it just functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for small to mid-sized businesses with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Superb for project monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might work for some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, costly experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s actually not working in your existing setup. Do not burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thanks.