You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful concept, just to realize later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I chose to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in truth? It turned into one of the most uncomfortable software decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my business.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through exactly what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, a lot more effective ways to grow your service. Simply … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come true. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you’ve ever before managed a Monster stack of tools just to run your daily, you understand how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for several years (and enjoying it, truthfully), however still– I obtained enticed in by the assurance of simplifying every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor instance of shiny object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did whatever I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little dated in position, and in some cases points took a few even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), offered a lot more features, and all the awesome online marketers on-line appeared to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That inquisitiveness price me more than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, rebuilding workflows, and essentially trying to replicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom types, landing pages, sets off … whatever
Allow’s not even speak about the lost efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the heck basic settings were.
And just when I believed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Slipping In
In the beginning, every little thing looked okay. However after that, out of nowhere, people on my listing began getting e-mails they weren’t expected to get. I’m talking completely pointless messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at a time. 3 days in a row.
Total turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still taken place. I got in touch with assistance. They criticized “web server issues.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not go away. Picture getting up every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just irritating– it threatens. When your entire brand is built on depend on, you can not afford to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the wrong individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not expect excellence from any platform. Bugs happen. But when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up fast.
That didn’t happen right here.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into the void while my company burned. On the other hand, every min I invested fixing was a minute I wasn’t offering customers or growing my agency.
For a device that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a device and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel OpenAI.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were hidden in strange locations. Even easy tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. Want to alter item settings, web page layouts, and general circulation? Awesome– you’ll require to hunt via three different locations that make zero sensible sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like utilizing software application developed by engineers, for engineers– not day-to-day business owners.
The “Economical” Plan That Obtained Genuine Pricey, Real Quick
Let’s speak money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Sounds fantastic, ideal?
Yet here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment independently.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Desire much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel OpenAI
The last straw? Seeing my e-mail open prices go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points simply functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was simply sending at bad times or otherwise individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t staying to play investigative while my list deteriorated.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– below’s what I wish someone had actually informed me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to obtain hyped regarding the most up to date “cutting edge” tool. But even if every person’s discussing something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t always better. A system with a tidy, intuitive interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Surprise costs are the worst. Select devices that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your regular monthly expense.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Users (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Examine objective reviews, user forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on real user experience– not just glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward system to run your service, I’ve evaluated a bunch. Below are a couple of I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it simply works. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Superb for task monitoring, group cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly fantastic for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your current arrangement. Don’t burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your sanity (and your clients) will thank you.