You know that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s an excellent idea, just to realize later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I determined to change my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. But actually? It turned into one of the most uncomfortable software application choices I have actually made in over a years of running my service.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with specifically what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, more efficient means to expand your company. Simply … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream happened. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you’ve ever before managed a Frankenstein stack of devices simply to run your everyday, you know how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for several years (and enjoying it, honestly), yet still– I obtained tempted in by the pledge of streamlining every little thing under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor case of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface felt a little outdated in position, and often points took a few even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I simply began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), used much more features, and all the great online marketers on-line appeared to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That inquisitiveness expense me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Price Me to Change
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, reconstructing workflows, and generally trying to replicate my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Customized forms, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Allow’s not also discuss the lost productivity throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and attempting to identify where the heck fundamental settings were.
And simply when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
At first, every little thing looked all right. However after that, out of no place, individuals on my listing began obtaining e-mails they weren’t meant to receive. I’m talking completely unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 users each time. 3 days in a row.
Total turmoil.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I contacted support. They condemned “web server issues.” Yet nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t go away. Imagine awakening every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just bothersome– it threatens. When your entire brand name is built on depend on, you can not manage to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I don’t expect excellence from any system. Insects happen. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up fast.
That didn’t occur here.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming into deep space while my organization shed. At the same time, every min I spent fixing was a min I wasn’t offering clients or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a tool and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Security and Compliance.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in strange locations. Also basic jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Want to transform product setups, web page formats, and general circulation? Cool– you’ll require to hunt with three various locations that make zero sensible feeling. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It felt like using software application built by designers, for designers– not everyday business owners.
The “Affordable” Plan That Got Genuine Pricey, Genuine Rapid
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Sounds outstanding, best?
Yet below’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Want 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 bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Security and Compliance
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and things simply functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was simply sending at bad times or not personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been sticking around to play detective while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re considering switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of new system– here’s what I want a person had informed me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to get hyped regarding the most recent “advanced” tool. Yet just because every person’s talking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly much better. A system with a tidy, user-friendly interface will certainly save you time and migraines in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Covert costs are the most awful. Choose tools that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your month-to-month costs.
4. Pay Attention to Real Users (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Examine impartial evaluations, user forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual customer experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, user-friendly platform to run your service, I have actually examined a number. Right here are a few I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it just functions. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized businesses with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for task management, team cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may help some. But for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s actually not working in your present setup. Don’t melt your systems down even if something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick with what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thank you.