You understand that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a great concept, just to realize later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I made a decision to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. But in reality? It became among the most agonizing software application decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my service.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with precisely what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, a lot more reliable means to expand your business. Simply … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a desire happened. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein stack of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you understand exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for several years (and liking it, truthfully), however still– I obtained lured in by the promise of simplifying whatever under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad case of shiny things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did every little thing I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface really felt a little dated in places, and sometimes points took a couple of more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I just started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), offered a lot more features, and all the great marketing experts online appeared to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That curiosity cost me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, rebuilding workflows, and primarily attempting to reproduce my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Dozens of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom-made forms, landing pages, sets off … every little thing
Let’s not even speak about the lost efficiency during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to identify where the heck standard settings were.
And just when I assumed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Sneaking In
In the beginning, every little thing looked all right. But after that, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started obtaining emails they weren’t meant to get. I’m chatting entirely irrelevant messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals at a time. Three days straight.
Overall disorder.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I called assistance. They blamed “web server concerns.” However nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not go away. Think of awakening every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is improved trust fund, you can’t pay for to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I do not anticipate perfection from any platform. Bugs occur. But when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quick.
That didn’t occur right here.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into the void while my business shed. At the same time, every minute I invested repairing was a min I wasn’t offering clients or growing my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever make use of a device and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Reselling.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in weird locations. Even straightforward jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. Want to alter product setups, page layouts, and general flow? Great– you’ll need to hunt via 3 different locations that make no rational sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It felt like utilizing software built by engineers, for designers– not everyday business owners.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Real Costly, Real Quick
Let’s speak cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s large selling factors is the rate. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Seems fantastic, appropriate?
But below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Desire far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
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 Reselling
The final straw? Watching my email open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and points just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was just sending at hard times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t remaining to play detective while my list decayed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new platform– right here’s what I want a person had informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to obtain hyped regarding the most recent “revolutionary” device. Yet just because every person’s speaking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t always better. A platform with a tidy, intuitive user interface will certainly save you time and frustrations over time– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Hidden costs are the most awful. Choose tools that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your monthly costs.
4. Listen to Actual Customers (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Check unbiased evaluations, individual online forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual user experience– not simply slick sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward platform to run your business, I have actually evaluated a lot. Below are a few I ‘d really recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it simply functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Great for job management, group cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may help some. But for me? It was a discouraging, costly experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your current configuration. Do not shed your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.