You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful idea, only to recognize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I made a decision to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became among one of the most painful software decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my service.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through exactly what dropped– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, a lot more reliable means to grow your service. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire come to life. A single platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you’ve ever juggled a Frankenstein pile of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you recognize exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for years (and loving it, honestly), however still– I obtained tempted in by the assurance of streamlining whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative case of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little outdated in position, and occasionally things took a few even more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just started asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), provided a lot more features, and all the trendy marketing professionals on-line seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That interest expense me greater than just cash– it cost me time, power, and satisfaction.
What It Cost Me to Change
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, rebuilding workflows, and basically trying to replicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Customized forms, landing pages, triggers … everything
Allow’s not even speak about the shed efficiency during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to figure out where the hell fundamental setups were.
And simply when I believed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
Initially, every little thing looked fine. Yet then, out of no place, individuals on my list began obtaining emails they weren’t intended to get. I’m speaking totally irrelevant messages– sent in sets of 171 customers at once. Three days in a row.
Total turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I contacted assistance. They blamed “server problems.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the problem didn’t vanish. Envision getting up every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just bothersome– it threatens. When your entire brand is improved trust, you can’t pay for to look like a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate perfection from any type of platform. Insects happen. However when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up quickly.
That didn’t occur right here.
Responses were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into the void while my service melted. On the other hand, every min I spent troubleshooting was a min I had not been offering customers or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a tool and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Lawsuit.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were hidden in strange areas. Also simple tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. Wish to change product setups, page formats, and total circulation? Amazing– you’ll require to hunt with three different areas that make absolutely no logical sense. Half the time, I could not even keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs previously.
It seemed like using software developed by engineers, for designers– not daily local business owner.
The “Economical” Plan That Got Actual Costly, Real Quick
Let’s speak cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems remarkable, right?
But right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Desire much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Lawsuit
The last straw? Seeing my email open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were called in, and points just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was simply sending at bad times or otherwise individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I had not been lingering to play detective while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new platform– here’s what I desire somebody had told me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped about the latest “cutting edge” tool. But just because everyone’s speaking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly far better. A system with a tidy, user-friendly interface will conserve you time and headaches over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Covert costs are the worst. Pick devices that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month costs.
4. Listen to Actual Individuals (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Inspect unbiased reviews, customer online forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to actual user experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, user-friendly platform to run your business, I’ve tested a bunch. Right here are a couple of I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong assistance, and it just functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for little to mid-sized businesses with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for job monitoring, group cooperation, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might work for some. But also for me? It was an irritating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your present arrangement. Don’t shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thank you.