You understand that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a great idea, only to understand later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I determined to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in truth? It turned into among one of the most uncomfortable software decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my organization.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with specifically what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, extra efficient methods to expand your organization. Simply … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream come to life. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Monster stack of devices simply to run your day-to-day, you understand how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I got tempted in by the guarantee of simplifying every little thing under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad instance of shiny object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did every little thing I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little outdated in position, and in some cases points took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I just started asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied more features, and all the trendy online marketers on the internet seemed to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That inquisitiveness expense me more than just money– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and essentially attempting to duplicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Dozens of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Customized forms, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Let’s not even speak about the shed productivity throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and attempting to identify where the hell standard settings were.
And simply when I assumed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
In the beginning, everything looked fine. But after that, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started obtaining e-mails they weren’t expected to get. I’m chatting completely pointless messages– sent out in sets of 171 users each time. 3 days in a row.
Overall turmoil.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I spoke to support. They criticized “server problems.” But nothing made good sense, and the problem didn’t disappear. Imagine getting up every early morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just bothersome– it threatens. When your whole brand name is improved count on, you can not pay for to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the wrong emails to the wrong individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I do not expect excellence from any type of platform. Insects occur. However when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up fast.
That really did not take place right here.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming into the void while my company burned. At the same time, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a minute I had not been serving clients or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a tool and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Make.com.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in odd areas. Also simple tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. Intend to alter product settings, page designs, and overall flow? Amazing– you’ll require to search with three various locations that make absolutely no sensible sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not also bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs earlier.
It seemed like making use of software program constructed by designers, for engineers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Genuine Costly, Actual Rapid
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s large selling factors is the cost. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, best?
But here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per email if you use their SMTP.
You need to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing separately.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained clearly.
Want better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Make.com
The final straw? Enjoying my email open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things simply functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was just sending at hard times or otherwise customizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t staying to play investigator while my listing deteriorated.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new system– right here’s what I desire somebody had told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped about the latest “innovative” device. Yet just because everybody’s discussing something does not mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t always far better. A platform with a clean, instinctive user interface will save you time and migraines in the long run– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Concealed prices are the worst. Select tools that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your regular monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Customers (Not Just Marketers)
Examine honest evaluations, individual discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on actual individual experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, user-friendly platform to run your organization, I have actually tested a number. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it just works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for little to mid-sized businesses with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Wonderful for job management, team cooperation, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might help some. But for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your current setup. Do not melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thanks.