You know that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent idea, just to recognize later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I determined to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. However actually? It became one of the most excruciating software program choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my service.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through exactly what dropped– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, extra efficient ways to grow your business. Simply … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream come true. A single platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever juggled a Monster pile of devices simply to run your daily, you know how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and liking it, honestly), but still– I got drawn in by the guarantee of streamlining everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad situation of shiny things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface felt a little dated in places, and often things took a few even more clicks than I liked, however hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Honestly, I simply started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), used more features, and all the trendy marketing professionals online seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That interest price me greater than just cash– it cost me time, power, and satisfaction.
What It Cost Me to Switch over
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and essentially trying to reproduce my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom forms, landing pages, activates … whatever
Let’s not even discuss the shed productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and attempting to identify where the hell basic settings were.
And just when I assumed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
In the beginning, whatever looked okay. However after that, out of no place, individuals on my listing began obtaining emails they weren’t meant to get. I’m speaking entirely unnecessary messages– sent out in sets of 171 customers at once. 3 days in a row.
Overall chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still taken place. I called assistance. They blamed “web server issues.” However nothing made sense, and the problem didn’t go away. Visualize getting up every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is improved count on, you can not pay for to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I do not anticipate perfection from any kind of system. Insects occur. But when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up fast.
That really did not occur right here.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting into deep space while my business burned. At the same time, every min I spent repairing was a minute I had not been serving customers or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Plumber Snapshot.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were buried in odd places. Also straightforward jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. Want to alter item setups, web page layouts, and total circulation? Cool– you’ll need to hunt through three different locations that make absolutely no rational sense. Half the moment, I could not also bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It felt like making use of software program constructed by designers, for designers– not everyday entrepreneur.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Actual Expensive, Real Rapid
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Sounds incredible, best?
Yet below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing separately.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Desire far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Plumber Snapshot
The last straw? Viewing my email open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things simply worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability concern. Possibly the system was simply sending out at hard times or not individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t staying to play investigative while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking of switching over to GoHighLevel– or any new platform– below’s what I desire someone had actually informed me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped about the latest “advanced” device. Yet just because every person’s speaking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a tidy, instinctive interface will save you time and migraines in the long run– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Covert prices are the most awful. Select tools that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your regular monthly expense.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Users (Not Simply Marketing Experts)
Inspect honest testimonials, individual forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of real customer experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, user-friendly platform to run your company, I have actually evaluated a lot. Below are a few I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it just works. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized companies with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for task administration, group cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may benefit some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s truly not operating in your present arrangement. Do not burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will thanks.