You understand that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic concept, just to understand later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I decided to switch my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. However in reality? It developed into one of the most excruciating software program choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my business.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through exactly what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, more reliable means to expand your service. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you’ve ever handled a Frankenstein stack of devices just to run your everyday, you know just how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for many years (and enjoying it, truthfully), but still– I got enticed in by the assurance of simplifying everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad situation of glossy item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I required. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface felt a little dated in position, and occasionally points took a few even more clicks than I liked, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just began asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), used much more features, and all the amazing marketers online seemed to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That inquisitiveness price me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Price Me to Change
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, restoring workflows, and basically trying to duplicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Customized types, landing pages, causes … every little thing
Allow’s not even discuss the lost productivity during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to identify where the hell standard settings were.
And just when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
In the beginning, whatever looked all right. However after that, out of no place, individuals on my list started getting emails they weren’t intended to get. I’m talking totally unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals at once. Three days in a row.
Overall turmoil.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still taken place. I spoke to assistance. They criticized “server problems.” Yet absolutely nothing made sense, and the issue really did not disappear. Envision awakening every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply frustrating– it threatens. When your entire brand name is built on depend on, you can’t manage to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I do not anticipate perfection from any kind of platform. Bugs take place. Yet when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up quickly.
That really did not happen below.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into the void while my service burned. Meanwhile, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t offering clients or growing my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever make use of a tool and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel P&C Insurance Playbook.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were hidden in weird locations. Even simple tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. Intend to change item setups, page formats, and total circulation? Cool– you’ll require to hunt via three different locations that make absolutely no logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten secs previously.
It felt like making use of software constructed by designers, for engineers– not daily company owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Real Pricey, Genuine Fast
Let’s chat cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the rate. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Seems amazing, right?
However here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Desire far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel P&C Insurance Playbook
The final straw? Enjoying my email open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and points simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was just sending out at bad times or not personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t lingering to play investigative while my list decayed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new system– below’s what I want a person had informed me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped regarding the latest “revolutionary” tool. But even if everybody’s speaking about something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly much better. A system with a tidy, user-friendly user interface will certainly conserve you time and frustrations in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Hidden prices are the worst. Choose tools that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your regular monthly costs.
4. Listen to Real Users (Not Just Online Marketers)
Examine unbiased testimonials, individual discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual individual experience– not just glossy sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, easy to use system to run your service, I’ve examined a number. Here are a couple of I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it simply works. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job monitoring, group partnership, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically terrific for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may benefit some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your present setup. Do not burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thanks.