You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a great concept, just to understand later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what took place when I made a decision to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet actually? It developed into one of the most excruciating software decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my company.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through specifically what dropped– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, more efficient ways to expand your company. Simply … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire happened. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you’ve ever before juggled a Monster stack of tools just to run your daily, you know exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), but still– I obtained drawn in by the assurance of streamlining every little thing under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor case of glossy object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface felt a little outdated in position, and sometimes points took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I simply began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied extra features, and all the awesome marketing experts on-line appeared to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That inquisitiveness expense me more than just cash– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Switch over
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and essentially trying to duplicate my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Custom kinds, landing pages, activates … whatever
Let’s not even discuss the shed productivity throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the hell basic setups were.
And simply when I believed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
Initially, every little thing looked fine. However then, out of no place, individuals on my checklist started obtaining emails they weren’t expected to get. I’m speaking completely irrelevant messages– sent in batches of 171 users at once. 3 days in a row.
Overall mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still taken place. I spoke to assistance. They condemned “server problems.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not vanish. Visualize getting up every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is built on count on, you can’t manage to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any kind of system. Insects take place. However when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up quick.
That didn’t take place here.
Responses were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming right into the void while my service shed. On the other hand, every min I invested repairing was a minute I had not been offering customers or growing my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before utilize a tool and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Remote Jobs.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in odd areas. Also straightforward jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. Wish to transform item settings, page layouts, and general flow? Awesome– you’ll require to hunt via three different areas that make no logical sense. Half the moment, I couldn’t even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs earlier.
It felt like using software program constructed by designers, for designers– not everyday local business owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Actual Costly, Genuine Quick
Let’s chat cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems incredible, appropriate?
Yet below’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Desire far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Remote Jobs
The last straw? Watching my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and things just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were nearly missing. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability concern. Perhaps the system was simply sending at bad times or otherwise customizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t remaining to play investigator while my checklist deteriorated.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– right here’s what I desire someone had informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped regarding the most recent “revolutionary” device. But even if every person’s talking about something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly far better. A system with a clean, intuitive user interface will save you time and headaches in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Concealed costs are the worst. Select devices that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Customers (Not Simply Marketing Experts)
Examine unbiased reviews, user discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on actual user experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, straightforward platform to run your business, I’ve checked a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it just works. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for small to mid-sized businesses with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job monitoring, team cooperation, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. But for me? It was a discouraging, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your existing setup. Do not shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will thank you.