You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a great idea, only to understand later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I chose to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. But actually? It developed into one of one of the most agonizing software decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my business.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with exactly what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, a lot more reliable ways to expand your organization. Simply … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire happened. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you’ve ever before handled a Monster stack of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you understand how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for many years (and liking it, honestly), however still– I got enticed in by the assurance of simplifying every little thing under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad case of shiny things syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface felt a little dated in places, and sometimes points took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), offered more features, and all the awesome marketing professionals online seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That curiosity expense me more than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, reconstructing workflows, and basically attempting to reproduce my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Personalized types, landing pages, causes … everything
Let’s not also talk about the shed performance throughout those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the heck fundamental setups were.
And simply when I assumed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Sneaking In
In the beginning, everything looked fine. Yet after that, out of nowhere, people on my listing began obtaining emails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m speaking completely unimportant messages– sent in batches of 171 individuals at once. Three days straight.
Total chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I contacted support. They criticized “server concerns.” Yet nothing made sense, and the problem didn’t disappear. Envision getting up every early morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on count on, you can’t manage to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I don’t expect excellence from any kind of platform. Bugs occur. Yet when they do? I expect the support group to step up quick.
That really did not occur here.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into the void while my company shed. On the other hand, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a minute I had not been offering clients or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t 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 Marketing Agency Playbook.
The UX was confusing. Things were hidden in odd places. Also straightforward jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. Intend to alter product settings, web page formats, and total circulation? Cool– you’ll need to hunt through 3 various areas that make zero logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t also remember where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software application constructed by engineers, for engineers– not daily local business owner.
The “Economical” Plan That Got Real Expensive, Real Fast
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the cost. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Seems remarkable, right?
But below’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You need to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment individually.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Desire better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Marketing Agency Playbook
The final straw? Viewing my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were called in, and points simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was just sending out at bad times or otherwise customizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigative while my listing decayed.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of new platform– right here’s what I desire somebody had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to obtain hyped concerning the most recent “cutting edge” tool. Yet just because everybody’s talking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t always better. A system with a tidy, intuitive user interface will save you time and headaches over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed prices are the worst. Select tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your regular monthly bill.
4. Listen to Real Users (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Inspect unbiased testimonials, individual forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of real 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 reputable, straightforward platform to run your organization, I have actually evaluated a bunch. Right here are a few I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it simply works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized services with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Great for project management, team collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may help some. But also for me? It was a frustrating, pricey 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 on your own what’s truly not working in your current setup. Do not melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thanks.