You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific idea, only to realize later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I determined to change my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. Yet actually? It became one of one of the most uncomfortable software application choices I’ve made in over a years of running my business.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with exactly what dropped– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, a lot more effective means to grow your company. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire become a reality. A single system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever handled a Frankenstein stack of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you recognize just how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), yet still– I got lured in by the assurance of streamlining whatever under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative case of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did everything I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little dated in places, and sometimes things took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), used much more features, and all the amazing marketing experts online seemed to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That interest price me more than just money– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and primarily attempting to reproduce my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Dozens of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom types, landing pages, sets off … everything
Let’s not even discuss the shed productivity during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the heck standard setups were.
And simply when I believed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Slipping In
Initially, every little thing looked okay. However after that, out of no place, individuals on my list began obtaining emails they weren’t intended to get. I’m chatting entirely irrelevant messages– sent in sets of 171 customers at a time. 3 days in a row.
Overall mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I contacted support. They criticized “web server concerns.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t vanish. Imagine awakening every early morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply frustrating– it threatens. When your whole brand name is built on count on, you can’t pay for to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I do not anticipate perfection from any kind of platform. Bugs take place. But when they do? I expect the support team to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen here.
Feedbacks were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling into deep space while my business melted. On the other hand, every min I invested repairing was a minute I had not been offering clients or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever make use of a tool and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel OAuth 2.0 API.
The UX was clunky. Points were hidden in weird locations. Even simple jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. Want to change item setups, page designs, and general flow? Amazing– you’ll require to search with three various locations that make absolutely no logical sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not also remember where I would certainly clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like utilizing software application constructed by designers, for designers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Got Real Costly, Actual Quick
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears remarkable, best?
Yet below’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing independently.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Want better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel OAuth 2.0 API
The last straw? Viewing my email open prices go down like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was just sending at bad times or otherwise customizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I had not been sticking around to play detective while my listing rotted.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– here’s what I wish somebody had informed me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped concerning the current “revolutionary” tool. Yet even if every person’s talking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly much better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive user interface will save you time and headaches in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Openness
Covert prices are the most awful. Pick tools that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your month-to-month costs.
4. Pay Attention to Real Individuals (Not Simply Marketers)
Inspect objective evaluations, user forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to actual customer experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, user-friendly platform to run your service, I’ve checked a bunch. Here are a couple of I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it just functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for little to mid-sized services with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Superb for job management, team cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may help some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s truly not working in your current arrangement. Do not shed your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will thanks.