You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a great idea, only to recognize later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I made a decision to switch my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in reality? It turned into one of the most painful software program decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my organization.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with exactly what decreased– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, a lot more efficient ways to expand your company. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire come true. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever handled a Monster stack of devices just to run your day-to-day, you recognize exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for many years (and loving it, honestly), yet still– I obtained lured in by the promise of simplifying every little thing under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative situation of glossy object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little outdated in places, and sometimes points took a few more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), offered more features, and all the great marketing experts online seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That curiosity expense me more than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Cost Me to Change
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and essentially attempting to replicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom forms, landing pages, activates … every little thing
Let’s not also talk about the lost performance during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the hell standard settings were.
And simply when I assumed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
At first, everything looked fine. But after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my listing started obtaining emails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m talking completely irrelevant messages– sent in batches of 171 users at a time. Three days in a row.
Overall mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I spoke to support. They blamed “server issues.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t disappear. Visualize awakening every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just irritating– it threatens. When your whole brand is built on depend on, you can not afford to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not anticipate excellence from any kind of platform. Bugs take place. Yet when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up fast.
That didn’t happen right here.
Actions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into deep space while my company melted. Meanwhile, every min I invested repairing was a minute I wasn’t offering clients or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a device and just really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Local Service Ads (LSA).
The UX was clunky. Things were buried in weird areas. Also easy jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. Wish to change item settings, web page designs, and overall flow? Amazing– you’ll need to quest via 3 different areas that make zero logical feeling. Half the time, I could not also keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs earlier.
It seemed like using software built by designers, for designers– not everyday local business owner.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Got Genuine Costly, Real Quick
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the rate. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Sounds fantastic, best?
Yet below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment individually.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Want better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Local Service Ads (LSA)
The final straw? Viewing my email open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things just worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was simply sending at bad times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t remaining to play detective while my listing decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of new platform– here’s what I wish a person had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped regarding the latest “innovative” tool. But even if every person’s talking about something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t always better. A platform with a clean, intuitive user interface will certainly save you time and headaches in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Openness
Covert expenses are the most awful. Select devices that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your regular monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Real Users (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Check honest evaluations, customer online forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of real individual experience– not just glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, straightforward platform to run your company, I have actually examined a bunch. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it just functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized businesses with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Superb for task monitoring, group cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But for me? It was a frustrating, costly experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your existing setup. Do not burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thanks.