You know that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful concept, just to realize later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I made a decision to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It turned into among one of the most painful software program decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my business.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via precisely what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, much more efficient methods to grow your business. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you have actually ever before handled a Monster stack of devices just to run your day-to-day, you understand how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for several years (and loving it, honestly), yet still– I obtained lured in by the pledge of streamlining every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor situation of shiny object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little dated in places, and often things took a couple of more clicks than I liked, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I just started asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), offered extra features, and all the cool marketers online appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That inquisitiveness price me greater than just money– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and generally attempting to replicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Dozens of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom forms, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Let’s not also discuss the lost performance throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the hell standard setups were.
And simply when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Creeping In
At first, every little thing looked okay. Yet after that, out of nowhere, people on my listing began obtaining emails they weren’t intended to get. I’m talking entirely unnecessary messages– sent in batches of 171 users at a time. Three days in a row.
Complete mayhem.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I contacted support. They condemned “server problems.” But nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t disappear. Imagine getting up every morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is improved trust, you can’t manage to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I don’t anticipate perfection from any system. Pests occur. Yet when they do? I expect the support team to step up fast.
That didn’t take place below.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into the void while my company melted. At the same time, every min I spent fixing was a min I had not been offering customers or growing my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever use a device and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Hidden Fees.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in weird locations. Also basic tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. Wish to change item setups, web page layouts, and total circulation? Cool– you’ll require to search with three different locations that make absolutely no logical feeling. Half the time, I couldn’t even remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It felt like utilizing software built by engineers, for designers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Actual Pricey, Real Fast
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s large marketing factors is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Seems fantastic, best?
However below’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Want better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Hidden Fees
The final straw? Seeing my email open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were called in, and points simply functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was just sending out at hard times or not personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I had not been remaining to play investigator while my checklist decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking of switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new system– here’s what I wish somebody had informed me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped about the latest “revolutionary” device. However even if every person’s speaking about something does not suggest it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive interface will save you time and headaches in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert expenses are the worst. Choose devices that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your monthly bill.
4. Listen to Genuine Users (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Inspect unbiased testimonials, user online forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of real individual experience– not just glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, easy to use platform to run your business, I’ve examined a bunch. Right here are a couple of I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it simply functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for small to mid-sized businesses with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for project administration, team collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might help some. But for me? It was a discouraging, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not operating in your existing setup. Do not burn your systems down even if something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will thank you.