You know that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic idea, only to recognize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I made a decision to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. But in truth? It turned into one of the most uncomfortable software application choices I have actually made in over a decade of running my organization.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with exactly what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, more effective ways to grow your business. Simply … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a desire happened. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you have actually ever handled a Frankenstein pile of tools just to run your daily, you recognize just how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for many years (and liking it, honestly), but still– I obtained drawn in by the assurance of simplifying everything under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative instance of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did whatever I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little outdated in places, and occasionally points took a couple of more clicks than I liked, however hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), offered more features, and all the trendy marketing professionals on-line appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That interest price me greater than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Cost Me to Change
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and basically attempting to duplicate my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, sets off … everything
Allow’s not even speak about the shed efficiency during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the heck basic setups were.
And simply when I thought points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
In the beginning, whatever looked alright. However then, out of nowhere, individuals on my checklist started obtaining e-mails they weren’t expected to get. I’m talking entirely irrelevant messages– sent in sets of 171 customers each time. 3 days straight.
Overall mayhem.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still happened. I called support. They criticized “server problems.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not vanish. Visualize awakening every morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is improved trust, you can not manage to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I don’t expect perfection from any kind of system. Pests occur. Yet when they do? I expect the support team to step up quickly.
That didn’t take place right here.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into deep space while my business burned. On the other hand, every min I invested fixing was a min I had not been serving customers or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a tool and just really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Point-of-Sale.
The UX was confusing. Things were buried in odd locations. Even easy jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. Want to transform product setups, web page designs, and total flow? Trendy– you’ll need to hunt through three different locations that make absolutely no rational sense. Half the time, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs previously.
It seemed like making use of software built by engineers, for engineers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Real Pricey, Real Rapid
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Sounds impressive, best?
However here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay additional per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing individually.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Want much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Point-of-Sale
The last straw? Seeing my e-mail open prices go down like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things simply worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was just sending at hard times or not personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t remaining to play detective while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– right here’s what I want someone had actually informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped regarding the most up to date “cutting edge” device. However even if everyone’s talking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your current system is working, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t always much better. A system with a clean, instinctive interface will conserve you time and headaches in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Concealed costs are the most awful. Choose tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your regular monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Users (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Examine honest reviews, user discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to actual customer experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, user-friendly platform to run your company, I have actually evaluated a lot. Below are a couple of I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it just functions. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for small to mid-sized companies with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for job monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might work for some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s truly not operating in your current arrangement. Do not burn your systems down even if something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will thank you.