You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a great idea, only to recognize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I decided to switch my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. But in reality? It developed into one of the most excruciating software program decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my business.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with precisely what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, extra effective ways to expand your organization. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream come true. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you’ve ever handled a Frankenstein pile of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you know exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for several years (and enjoying it, honestly), yet still– I got tempted in by the promise of simplifying every little thing under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad situation of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been broken. It did whatever I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface really felt a little dated in position, and in some cases things took a few more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just started questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), offered much more features, and all the awesome marketers online seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That interest expense me more than simply money– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and essentially attempting to replicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Dozens of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Personalized forms, landing pages, causes … every little thing
Allow’s not even speak about the lost efficiency during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to determine where the hell basic settings were.
And simply when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
At first, everything looked okay. However after that, out of nowhere, people on my listing started getting e-mails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m chatting completely unnecessary messages– sent in batches of 171 users at a time. Three days straight.
Overall chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I got in touch with assistance. They blamed “web server concerns.” Yet nothing made sense, and the issue really did not go away. Picture getting up every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just aggravating– it threatens. When your whole brand is improved depend on, you can not pay for to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any system. Insects take place. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up fast.
That didn’t happen here.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into the void while my service burned. On the other hand, every minute I invested troubleshooting was a min I had not been serving customers or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to severe entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Recruiting Snapshot.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in weird places. Also easy tasks like modifying 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 designs, and overall flow? Trendy– you’ll require to hunt through three different locations that make zero logical feeling. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t also remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs previously.
It seemed like utilizing software program built by engineers, for designers– not day-to-day entrepreneur.
The “Economical” Plan That Got Real Pricey, Real Fast
Let’s chat cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge marketing factors is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears fantastic, right?
Yet here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment independently.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Want far 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 actually been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Recruiting Snapshot
The final straw? Watching my email open prices go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were called in, and points simply worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was simply sending out at bad times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I had not been sticking around to play investigator while my checklist rotted.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new system– below’s what I want somebody had informed me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped about the current “cutting edge” tool. Yet just because everybody’s talking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your current system is working, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t always far better. A system with a tidy, user-friendly interface will save you time and headaches in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Hidden prices are the most awful. Select tools that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your month-to-month expense.
4. Listen to Real Individuals (Not Just Online Marketers)
Inspect impartial testimonials, individual forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of real user experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, easy to use system to run your business, I have actually tested a number. Right here are a couple of I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it simply works. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized organizations with solid coverage tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job monitoring, team partnership, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may work for some. But for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not working in your current setup. Don’t melt your systems down even if something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thank you.