You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific concept, only to realize later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s specifically what took place when I chose to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. Yet in reality? It turned into among the most agonizing software choices I have actually made in over a decade of running my organization.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via exactly what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, extra reliable methods to grow your service. Simply … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire come to life. A single system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you’ve ever juggled a Monster pile of tools simply to run your everyday, you understand how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for several years (and enjoying it, honestly), yet still– I got drawn in by the guarantee of simplifying every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad instance of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface really felt a little dated in places, and in some cases points took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply began wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), offered a lot more features, and all the cool online marketers online appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That interest expense me greater than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Switch over
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and basically trying to replicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Custom kinds, landing pages, causes … everything
Let’s not even talk about the shed productivity throughout those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to figure out where the hell standard settings were.
And just when I believed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
At first, everything looked all right. But after that, out of no place, people on my checklist started obtaining emails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m speaking completely irrelevant messages– sent out in batches of 171 users at a time. Three days in a row.
Total chaos.
I restore the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I called support. They blamed “server problems.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem didn’t vanish. Think of awakening every early morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on trust fund, you can not afford to look like an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any platform. Insects happen. However when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up fast.
That didn’t happen below.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting right into the void while my business shed. On the other hand, every min I spent repairing was a minute I had not been offering clients or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to severe entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever use a device and just really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Quotes.
The UX was clunky. Points were hidden in weird areas. Even basic jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. Want to transform product setups, page layouts, and overall circulation? Awesome– you’ll require to hunt with 3 different locations that make no logical feeling. Half the moment, I could not even remember where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software developed by designers, for engineers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Actual Pricey, Real Quick
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Appears outstanding, ideal?
Yet here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Desire better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added everything 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 math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Quotes
The final straw? Watching my email open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and points just worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was simply sending at bad times or otherwise customizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t remaining to play investigative while my listing decomposed.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of new system– here’s what I wish a person had actually informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to obtain hyped regarding the most recent “innovative” tool. Yet even if everyone’s talking about something does not imply it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly better. A system with a clean, intuitive user interface will certainly save you time and headaches in the future– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Openness
Hidden costs are the most awful. Choose devices that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your monthly expense.
4. Listen to Actual Customers (Not Just Online Marketers)
Inspect objective evaluations, individual discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of actual user experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward platform to run your company, I’ve tested a number. Here are a few I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it simply works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for little to mid-sized services with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for task monitoring, group collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might work for some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your existing arrangement. Don’t melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thank you.