You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent idea, just to realize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I determined to switch my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. However in reality? It became among the most unpleasant software program choices I’ve made in over a years of running my service.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through precisely what decreased– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, extra effective means to grow your company. Simply … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire happened. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein pile of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you recognize just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), but still– I obtained tempted in by the pledge of simplifying every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative instance of shiny object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface felt a little dated in places, and in some cases things took a couple of more clicks than I liked, but hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply started wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), provided much more features, and all the awesome online marketers on the internet seemed to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That curiosity cost me more than just money– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Change
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and generally trying to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom-made types, landing pages, sets off … every little thing
Allow’s not also talk about the lost productivity throughout those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the hell standard settings were.
And simply when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Slipping In
In the beginning, every little thing looked all right. However then, out of nowhere, people on my listing began obtaining emails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m speaking totally irrelevant messages– sent out in sets of 171 customers at a time. 3 days straight.
Overall mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still taken place. I called assistance. They criticized “server problems.” But absolutely nothing made sense, and the trouble didn’t go away. Think of waking up every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply annoying– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is improved trust, you can’t manage to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any platform. Bugs happen. However when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quickly.
That really did not take place right here.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into the void while my service burned. At the same time, every minute I invested fixing was a min I wasn’t offering clients or expanding my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a tool and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Internal Notification.
The UX was confusing. Points were hidden in odd areas. Even basic jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. Intend to transform product settings, web page designs, and overall flow? Amazing– you’ll require to hunt with three various locations that make zero sensible sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It felt like utilizing software application built by engineers, for engineers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Genuine Costly, Actual Quick
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the price. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Appears remarkable, appropriate?
Yet here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay additional per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment individually.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Desire far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Internal Notification
The final straw? Viewing my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and things simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was just sending out at bad times or not personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t staying to play investigator while my listing decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of changing to GoHighLevel– or any new system– right here’s what I wish someone had told me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped regarding the latest “cutting edge” device. But even if everyone’s speaking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t always much better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive interface will certainly conserve you time and headaches in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed prices are the worst. Pick tools that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your regular monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Users (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Examine objective evaluations, user online forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of real individual experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, user-friendly platform to run your service, I’ve checked a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it simply functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized businesses with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Amazing for task administration, team collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might benefit some. However, for me? It was an aggravating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s truly not operating in your current arrangement. Don’t melt your systems down just because something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thank you.