You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific idea, just to recognize later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what took place when I made a decision to change my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. But actually? It became one of the most uncomfortable software application choices I have actually made in over a decade of running my business.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with precisely what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, much more effective means to grow your service. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream become a reality. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before juggled a Frankenstein pile of tools just to run your everyday, you understand how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and loving it, honestly), but still– I got enticed in by the pledge of simplifying everything under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad situation of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I required. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface really felt a little dated in position, and often points took a few even more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Honestly, I just began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied much more features, and all the great marketing experts online seemed to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That inquisitiveness cost me greater than simply money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, restoring workflows, and basically trying to duplicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Lots of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Customized kinds, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Let’s not even speak about the shed productivity during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the hell basic settings were.
And just when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
Initially, everything looked okay. But after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my listing began getting e-mails they weren’t expected to get. I’m chatting totally unimportant messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals at once. Three days in a row.
Total disorder.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I contacted support. They condemned “web server issues.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem didn’t vanish. Picture getting up every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just bothersome– it threatens. When your entire brand name is improved count on, you can’t afford to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the incorrect people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I don’t expect excellence from any type of platform. Bugs occur. However when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up quickly.
That really did not take place right here.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into deep space while my company burned. On the other hand, every min I spent fixing was a minute I wasn’t serving customers or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before make use of a device and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Kitchen Remodel Snapshot.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in weird locations. Even simple tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. Intend to alter item setups, page formats, and overall circulation? Great– you’ll need to quest through 3 various locations that make absolutely no sensible feeling. Half the time, I could not also remember where I would certainly clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It felt like using software built by designers, for engineers– not day-to-day entrepreneur.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Real Expensive, Genuine Fast
Let’s speak cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the price. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Sounds remarkable, right?
But below’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing individually.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Want better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Kitchen Remodel Snapshot
The last straw? Watching my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and points just worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at hard times or otherwise customizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I had not been sticking around to play investigative while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– below’s what I wish a person had told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped about the current “innovative” tool. However just because every person’s talking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your current system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly far better. A system with a tidy, user-friendly user interface will certainly save you time and headaches in the future– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Surprise expenses are the most awful. Select tools that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Real Customers (Not Simply Marketing Experts)
Check honest testimonials, customer discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of actual customer experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, easy to use platform to run your service, I have actually evaluated a bunch. Here are a couple of I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it just functions. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for little to mid-sized organizations with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Great for job monitoring, team partnership, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may benefit some. But for me? It was an aggravating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your current configuration. Don’t shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will thanks.