You understand that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent concept, only to recognize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what took place when I chose to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in reality? It developed into among the most uncomfortable software choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my organization.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via specifically what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, a lot more effective means to expand your organization. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire become a reality. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever handled a Monster stack of devices just to run your day-to-day, you recognize how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for many years (and enjoying it, honestly), however still– I obtained lured in by the promise of streamlining everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad case of glossy item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did whatever I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface really felt a little outdated in places, and in some cases points took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply started questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), supplied much more features, and all the amazing online marketers on-line seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness price me more than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Price Me to Change
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, rebuilding workflows, and essentially trying to reproduce my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Dozens of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, causes … whatever
Let’s not even talk about the lost performance during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to identify where the hell basic setups were.
And simply when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
Initially, whatever looked all right. Yet then, out of nowhere, individuals on my list began getting e-mails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m speaking totally irrelevant messages– sent out in sets of 171 users at once. Three days straight.
Total chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I got in touch with assistance. They blamed “web server issues.” But absolutely nothing made sense, and the trouble really did not disappear. Visualize waking up every morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply irritating– it threatens. When your whole brand is built on depend on, you can’t manage to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I do not expect excellence from any system. Insects occur. But when they do? I expect the support group to step up fast.
That didn’t occur below.
Actions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting right into the void while my organization burned. Meanwhile, every min I invested fixing was a min I wasn’t offering customers or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before make use of a device and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Google Analytics.
The UX was confusing. Things were buried in weird areas. Also straightforward jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. Intend to transform item setups, web page layouts, and overall circulation? Cool– you’ll require to hunt via three various locations that make no logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t also keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It felt like making use of software developed by engineers, for engineers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Economical” Plan That Got Genuine Costly, Genuine Fast
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems outstanding, right?
However right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing separately.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Google Analytics
The last straw? Viewing my email open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Perhaps the system was simply sending at bad times or otherwise individualizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play detective while my list decayed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re considering switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new platform– right here’s what I desire somebody had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped regarding the most up to date “cutting edge” device. Yet even if everyone’s discussing something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your current system is working, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t always far better. A platform with a clean, intuitive interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Surprise prices are the most awful. Choose devices that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your regular monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Real Customers (Not Simply Marketers)
Examine objective reviews, user forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual individual experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, straightforward system to run your service, I have actually tested a lot. Here are a few I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it simply works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for little to mid-sized organizations with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task management, team partnership, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly great for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may benefit some. But also for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your present configuration. Don’t shed your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thank you.