You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific idea, just to understand later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I chose to change my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. However in reality? It developed into among one of the most painful software choices I have actually made in over a years of running my company.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via specifically what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, much more reliable ways to expand your service. Just … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream become a reality. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit bookings, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before juggled a Monster pile of tools simply to run your daily, you know just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for years (and loving it, truthfully), yet still– I got tempted in by the pledge of streamlining whatever under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad case of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface felt a little outdated in position, and in some cases things took a few more clicks than I liked, however hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I simply started asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), offered much more features, and all the amazing marketers online seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity price me greater than just money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Cost Me to Change
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, restoring workflows, and essentially attempting to replicate my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Customized types, landing pages, causes … everything
Let’s not even discuss the lost productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to determine where the hell basic settings were.
And just when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Creeping In
At first, whatever looked alright. However then, out of no place, individuals on my listing started obtaining e-mails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m speaking entirely pointless messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at once. 3 days straight.
Total mayhem.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I spoke to support. They condemned “web server issues.” But absolutely nothing made sense, and the problem really did not vanish. Visualize waking up every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply aggravating– it threatens. When your whole brand name is improved depend on, you can’t afford to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the wrong individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I do not anticipate excellence from any kind of platform. Pests take place. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quick.
That didn’t occur right here.
Reactions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into deep space while my company burned. Meanwhile, every minute I spent fixing was a minute I wasn’t offering customers or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before make use of a tool and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Google Reviews.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in unusual places. Also straightforward jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. Intend to change product settings, web page layouts, and overall flow? Trendy– you’ll require to hunt through three different areas that make absolutely no logical feeling. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs previously.
It seemed like making use of software program developed by engineers, for engineers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Economical” Plan That Obtained Real Costly, Real Fast
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big selling points is the price. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Sounds impressive, best?
But below’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Desire far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Google Reviews
The last straw? Seeing my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and things simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was just sending out at bad times or not customizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t lingering to play detective while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new system– below’s what I wish a person had informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped about the current “innovative” device. However even if everybody’s talking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your current system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a tidy, intuitive user interface will save you time and frustrations in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert costs are the most awful. Pick devices that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your monthly bill.
4. Listen to Real Customers (Not Simply Marketers)
Examine impartial reviews, customer online forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual user experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, user-friendly system to run your service, I’ve examined a lot. Right here are a couple of I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it simply functions. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized services with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for job administration, group partnership, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may benefit some. However, for me? It was an irritating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your existing configuration. Don’t melt your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thank you.