You understand that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific concept, only to recognize later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I chose to switch my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became among the most excruciating software decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my company.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via exactly what decreased– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, a lot more reliable ways to grow your business. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream become a reality. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Monster stack of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you know how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and loving it, honestly), but still– I obtained tempted in by the promise of streamlining everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad instance of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did everything I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in places, and occasionally points took a few even more clicks than I liked, however hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I just began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), provided much more features, and all the cool marketing professionals on-line appeared to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That interest price me greater than just cash– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, restoring workflows, and generally trying to duplicate my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, sets off … everything
Let’s not also discuss the shed productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and attempting to find out where the hell standard setups were.
And simply when I thought points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
In the beginning, everything looked all right. But then, out of nowhere, individuals on my checklist began obtaining e-mails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m chatting completely irrelevant messages– sent in sets of 171 customers at once. 3 days in a row.
Complete chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I spoke to support. They blamed “server issues.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the issue didn’t disappear. Picture getting up every early morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is improved trust, you can’t afford to resemble an unaware amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I don’t anticipate excellence from any kind of system. Pests occur. However when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up fast.
That didn’t happen below.
Responses were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into the void while my organization burned. On the other hand, every minute I invested fixing was a minute I had not been serving customers or growing my company.
For a tool that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before make use of a device and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel SMTP.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in odd locations. Also simple jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. Intend to change product settings, page designs, and overall flow? Great– you’ll need to quest through three different areas that make no sensible feeling. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten secs earlier.
It felt like using software program developed by designers, for engineers– not day-to-day local business owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Obtained Real Pricey, Actual Fast
Let’s speak cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems outstanding, appropriate?
Yet below’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per email if you use their SMTP.
You need to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing individually.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel SMTP
The last straw? Watching my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things simply worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was just sending out at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t remaining to play investigative while my checklist deteriorated.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of new system– below’s what I wish someone had actually told me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to get hyped about the most recent “advanced” device. But just because every person’s speaking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your current system is working, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t always far better. A system with a tidy, instinctive user interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed costs are the worst. Choose devices that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your month-to-month costs.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Customers (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Inspect objective evaluations, customer forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to actual individual experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, straightforward platform to run your business, I have actually tested a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it just works. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for tiny to mid-sized businesses with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for project monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may benefit some. However, for me? It was an aggravating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your current configuration. Don’t burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thank you.