You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s an excellent concept, only to realize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what took place when I determined to switch my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. But in truth? It turned into one of the most agonizing software application decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my company.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via precisely what decreased– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, extra reliable methods to expand your business. Just … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Below’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream come to life. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever managed a Frankenstein pile of devices simply to run your daily, you understand how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for several years (and loving it, truthfully), yet still– I obtained enticed in by the guarantee of simplifying whatever under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative situation of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did every little thing I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little outdated in position, and often points took a couple of more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I just started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), provided extra features, and all the awesome marketing professionals on-line appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That curiosity price me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and generally trying to replicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Customized forms, landing pages, causes … whatever
Let’s not also speak about the shed productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the hell standard setups were.
And just when I assumed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
At first, every little thing looked okay. But then, out of no place, individuals on my checklist began getting e-mails they weren’t intended to get. I’m chatting entirely irrelevant messages– sent out in sets of 171 customers at a time. Three days in a row.
Total chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still taken place. I contacted assistance. They criticized “server problems.” But nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not vanish. Visualize waking up every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is improved count on, you can’t afford to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not anticipate excellence from any kind of system. Pests take place. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up quick.
That didn’t occur right here.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into deep space while my business shed. On the other hand, every min I spent fixing was a min I had not been offering clients or growing my company.
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 before utilize a tool and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Helpdesk.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were hidden in strange places. Also simple jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. Intend to alter product setups, web page designs, and overall circulation? Great– you’ll need to hunt through three different areas that make zero sensible sense. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t also keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It felt like making use of software program developed by designers, for designers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Economical” Plan That Obtained Genuine Costly, Genuine Quick
Let’s talk cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the cost. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems fantastic, best?
Yet here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing separately.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Desire much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Helpdesk
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and points just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was simply sending at bad times or otherwise personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t staying to play detective while my checklist decomposed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re considering switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new system– right here’s what I want a person had told me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to obtain hyped concerning the current “cutting edge” tool. But even if everybody’s discussing something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t always far better. A system with a tidy, intuitive interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert costs are the most awful. Choose devices that are ahead of time concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your monthly costs.
4. Listen to Actual Individuals (Not Simply Marketers)
Examine honest evaluations, individual online forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of actual user experience– not just glossy sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, straightforward platform to run your organization, I have actually evaluated a bunch. Here are a few I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it simply functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized services with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job administration, team partnership, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically great for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may help some. But for me? It was an aggravating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your existing configuration. Don’t shed your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will thanks.