You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s an excellent idea, only to understand later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s specifically what took place when I decided to change my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became among one of the most painful software program decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my company.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with precisely what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, extra effective ways to expand your business. Simply … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream come true. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein stack of tools simply to run your everyday, you recognize just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for years (and enjoying it, truthfully), but still– I got enticed in by the pledge of simplifying everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor instance of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been broken. It did whatever I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface felt a little outdated in places, and in some cases things took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just began questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), offered extra features, and all the awesome marketing professionals online seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That curiosity price me more than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and basically attempting to replicate my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, activates … every little thing
Let’s not even talk about the shed productivity during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to identify where the hell fundamental setups were.
And just when I believed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Sneaking In
At first, whatever looked alright. Yet then, out of no place, individuals on my checklist started obtaining e-mails they weren’t intended to obtain. I’m talking entirely unimportant messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at once. Three days straight.
Complete turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still taken place. I contacted support. They blamed “web server problems.” But absolutely 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 simply annoying– it threatens. When your whole brand name is improved trust, you can not manage to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not expect perfection from any system. Bugs take place. However when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up fast.
That really did not occur right here.
Actions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into the void while my business shed. Meanwhile, every min I invested fixing was a minute I wasn’t serving clients or growing my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever make use of a tool and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Setup Services.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were buried in unusual places. Even basic jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. Want to change product settings, web page designs, and total flow? Cool– you’ll require to search through three various locations that make no sensible feeling. Half the time, I could not even remember where I ‘d clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like using software program developed by designers, for designers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Obtained Actual Expensive, Real Quick
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big selling factors is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Seems amazing, appropriate?
However right here’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 handle their billing individually.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Setup Services
The last straw? Enjoying my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and points simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was simply sending at bad times or not customizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigator while my checklist deteriorated.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of new system– below’s what I wish somebody had informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped concerning the most recent “advanced” device. However even if every person’s speaking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t constantly much better. A system with a tidy, intuitive interface will conserve you time and headaches in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed expenses are the worst. Pick tools that are upfront about pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your month-to-month costs.
4. Listen to Real Users (Not Just Marketers)
Examine objective reviews, user discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual user experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, straightforward system to run your organization, I’ve checked a number. Below are a few I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it simply works. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized businesses with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job administration, group cooperation, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Especially great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. But for me? It was an irritating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s actually not working in your existing setup. Do not shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thank you.