You understand that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic idea, just to recognize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I made a decision to switch my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in truth? It developed into among one of the most excruciating software program choices I’ve made in over a years of running my company.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through precisely what dropped– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, a lot more efficient methods to grow your service. Simply … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you’ve ever before handled a Frankenstein pile of devices just to run your everyday, you recognize exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and liking it, truthfully), however still– I obtained drawn in by the assurance of simplifying everything under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor situation of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I required. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface felt a little dated in places, and sometimes things took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply started questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), offered a lot more features, and all the awesome online marketers on-line appeared to be raving about it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That inquisitiveness price me greater than just cash– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Price Me to Change
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, reconstructing workflows, and primarily attempting to duplicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Personalized types, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Let’s not even speak about the shed productivity during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to find out where the heck fundamental settings were.
And just when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
At first, everything looked all right. Yet then, out of no place, individuals on my listing started getting emails they weren’t meant to get. I’m speaking entirely pointless messages– sent in sets of 171 users at a time. Three days straight.
Overall turmoil.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I contacted assistance. They condemned “server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t go away. Picture awakening every early morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is built on trust, you can’t manage to appear like an unaware amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I don’t expect perfection from any kind of platform. Pests take place. Yet when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up quick.
That really did not occur here.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting into the void while my company melted. Meanwhile, every min I invested fixing was a minute I had not been offering customers or growing my company.
For a tool that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and just really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel LevelUp Day.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were buried in weird locations. Also straightforward jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Intend to alter item settings, web page designs, and general circulation? Great– you’ll need to search via 3 different areas that make absolutely no logical sense. Half the time, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten secs earlier.
It felt like utilizing software program developed by engineers, for designers– not daily company owner.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Obtained Actual Pricey, Genuine Fast
Let’s speak cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge marketing points is the price. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Sounds amazing, ideal?
But here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing independently.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel LevelUp Day
The final straw? Seeing my email open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were called in, and things simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was just sending at hard times or otherwise individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play detective while my listing decayed.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any new system– below’s what I desire somebody had informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to get hyped about the most up to date “cutting edge” tool. However just because every person’s speaking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your present system is working, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly much better. A system with a clean, intuitive user interface will certainly save you time and migraines in the long run– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Openness
Covert expenses are the worst. Choose devices that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your regular monthly bill.
4. Listen to Genuine Customers (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Examine honest reviews, individual online forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of real user experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward platform to run your organization, I have actually evaluated a lot. Right here are a couple of I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it just functions. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized companies with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for job management, group collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might help some. But also for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s really not operating in your current configuration. Do not burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick with what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will thank you.