You know that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic concept, only to understand later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I determined to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became one of the most excruciating software application choices I’ve made in over a years of running my business.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with specifically what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, a lot more effective means to expand your organization. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream become a reality. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein stack of devices just to run your day-to-day, you understand just how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for several years (and loving it, honestly), however still– I obtained enticed in by the promise of streamlining every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative case of shiny object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little dated in position, and sometimes points took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, however hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied a lot more features, and all the amazing online marketers online appeared to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That curiosity price me more than simply money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and primarily trying to duplicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Customized types, landing pages, causes … everything
Let’s not even talk about the lost productivity during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to identify where the heck standard setups were.
And just when I assumed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Sneaking In
In the beginning, every little thing looked alright. However then, out of no place, people on my listing started obtaining emails they weren’t expected to get. I’m speaking totally irrelevant messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals each time. Three days straight.
Complete turmoil.
I restore the automations from square one. Still happened. I called assistance. They condemned “web server problems.” However nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not vanish. Imagine waking up every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is improved trust, you can not pay for to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I do not anticipate perfection from any platform. Insects take place. However when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up fast.
That didn’t occur here.
Feedbacks were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into deep space while my organization shed. Meanwhile, every minute I spent fixing was a min I wasn’t offering customers or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to severe entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever utilize a device and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel POS For iPad.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were hidden in weird areas. Even basic jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. Intend to change item settings, page formats, and overall circulation? Great– you’ll require to search with 3 various areas that make no logical sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not also remember where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It felt like making use of software program developed by designers, for engineers– not everyday local business owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Genuine Pricey, Genuine Fast
Let’s speak money.
One of GoHighLevel’s large marketing factors is the rate. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Sounds amazing, right?
But below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment individually.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained clearly.
Want 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 becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel POS For iPad
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and things simply worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at bad times or not individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been remaining to play investigator while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new system– below’s what I want somebody had informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to get hyped regarding the most recent “advanced” device. However even if everyone’s speaking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your current system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a tidy, intuitive user interface will certainly save you time and migraines in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Hidden costs are the worst. Choose devices that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month bill.
4. Listen to Genuine Customers (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Inspect honest testimonials, user discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to actual customer experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, user-friendly system to run your business, I’ve examined a number. Here are a few I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it simply works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized organizations with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for job administration, team collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may benefit some. But also for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not operating in your existing setup. Don’t shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thank you.