You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific concept, just to understand later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I decided to change my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in truth? It turned into one of the most uncomfortable 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 walk you with precisely what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, a lot more reliable methods to grow your organization. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire come to life. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you have actually ever before juggled a Frankenstein stack of devices just to run your everyday, you recognize how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for several years (and liking it, truthfully), yet still– I obtained lured in by the assurance of simplifying every little thing under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor instance of shiny object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been broken. It did everything I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface really felt a little outdated in position, and sometimes things took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), provided a lot more features, and all the amazing marketers online seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than just money– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Cost Me to Change
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and generally trying to duplicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom kinds, landing pages, triggers … everything
Let’s not also discuss the lost productivity throughout those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and attempting to determine where the hell basic settings were.
And simply when I thought points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
In the beginning, every little thing looked fine. But then, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started getting e-mails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m talking completely unnecessary messages– sent out in sets of 171 users at a time. Three days in a row.
Total mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still occurred. I spoke to support. They condemned “server issues.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not go away. Visualize getting up every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just annoying– it threatens. When your entire brand is built on trust, you can’t manage to appear like an unaware amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I do not expect excellence from any type of system. Insects occur. However when they do? I expect the support team to step up quick.
That didn’t occur below.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into deep space while my organization melted. At the same time, every min I invested fixing was a min I wasn’t offering customers or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever use a device and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Integrations.
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in odd locations. Even simple jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. Wish to alter item settings, page formats, and overall flow? Trendy– you’ll need to quest with three different areas that make absolutely no rational feeling. Half the time, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It seemed like utilizing software application built by designers, for designers– not daily company owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Actual Costly, Genuine Rapid
Let’s speak cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, best?
Yet below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing individually.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Desire far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Integrations
The last straw? Viewing my e-mail open prices go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and things simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at bad times or not customizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I had not been lingering to play investigator while my list rotted.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– here’s what I desire somebody had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped about the latest “advanced” tool. However just because everyone’s speaking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a tidy, user-friendly 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
Concealed costs are the worst. Select tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your regular monthly expense.
4. Listen to Genuine Customers (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Check objective evaluations, user forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to real individual experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, easy to use platform to run your service, I have actually checked a number. Here are a couple of I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it simply works. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized businesses with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Great for project monitoring, team cooperation, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Especially great for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might work for some. But also for me? It was an irritating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your current setup. Do not burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thanks.