You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific idea, just to recognize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I made a decision to change my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in truth? It developed into one of the most unpleasant software choices I’ve made in over a years of running my service.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via specifically what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, more effective ways to expand your service. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Below’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream come true. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever before juggled a Frankenstein pile of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you know exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for several years (and loving it, truthfully), yet still– I got enticed in by the pledge of streamlining whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor instance of shiny things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did everything I required. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface felt a little dated in places, and sometimes things took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just started questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), offered extra features, and all the amazing marketers on the internet appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness price me greater than just money– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Cost Me to Change
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, rebuilding workflows, and essentially trying to replicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Allow’s not also speak about the lost performance during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to find out where the hell fundamental settings were.
And simply when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Slipping In
At first, everything looked fine. Yet then, out of no place, individuals on my list began getting emails they weren’t intended to receive. I’m chatting totally unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 customers at a time. 3 days in a row.
Overall disorder.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still happened. I spoke to assistance. They criticized “web server issues.” But absolutely nothing made sense, and the trouble didn’t vanish. Envision awakening every morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on trust fund, you can not manage to appear like an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not expect excellence from any type of system. Insects take place. However when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up fast.
That didn’t take place here.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting right into deep space while my business shed. On the other hand, every min I invested troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t offering clients or expanding my firm.
For a device that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a tool and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Google My Business Integration.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in weird areas. Even basic jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. Intend to change product setups, page designs, and general circulation? Amazing– you’ll require to hunt via three various locations that make absolutely no rational sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not also keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It felt like making use of software constructed by designers, for designers– not everyday company owner.
The “Affordable” Plan That Got Real Costly, Actual Rapid
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge marketing factors is the price. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Seems outstanding, ideal?
Yet below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Desire much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Google My Business Integration
The final straw? Enjoying my email open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things simply functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was simply sending at bad times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t lingering to play detective while my list decayed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any new system– here’s what I want someone had actually informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped about the most up to date “revolutionary” tool. But even if every person’s discussing something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t constantly far better. A system with a tidy, intuitive interface will save you time and migraines over time– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Concealed prices are the most awful. Choose devices that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your regular monthly costs.
4. Listen to Genuine Customers (Not Just Online Marketers)
Inspect impartial testimonials, individual online forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual individual experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, straightforward system to run your company, I’ve checked a number. Right here are a couple of I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong assistance, and it just functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized businesses with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Superb for project management, team partnership, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may help some. But for me? It was an aggravating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your existing arrangement. Do not burn your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thanks.