You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a terrific concept, just to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I made a decision to switch my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. However in reality? It developed into one of the most uncomfortable software program decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my service.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through precisely what decreased– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, extra reliable ways to expand your organization. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Below’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire happened. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, payments– you call it.
If you have actually ever before managed a Frankenstein pile of devices just to run your everyday, you know exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for several years (and loving it, honestly), yet still– I obtained drawn in by the pledge of simplifying everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad situation of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did whatever I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in position, and occasionally things took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I just began questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), provided extra features, and all the cool marketing professionals on-line seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That curiosity price me more than just cash– it cost me time, power, and satisfaction.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and basically trying to duplicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Customized kinds, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Let’s not also talk about the shed efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the hell fundamental settings were.
And simply when I thought points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
Initially, everything looked okay. Yet after that, out of no place, individuals on my list began obtaining e-mails they weren’t supposed to get. I’m talking completely irrelevant messages– sent in batches of 171 users at a time. Three days in a row.
Overall chaos.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I got in touch with support. They condemned “server concerns.” But nothing made good sense, and the issue didn’t go away. Envision awakening every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just annoying– it threatens. When your whole brand is built on trust, you can not manage to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I don’t expect excellence from any type of system. Bugs occur. However when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quickly.
That really did not take place here.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming right into the void while my organization burned. At the same time, every min I invested repairing was a min I had not been offering clients or growing my company.
For a tool that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before utilize a tool and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Snapshot Pour Thérapeute.
The UX was clunky. Points were hidden in weird places. Even straightforward jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Want to transform product setups, web page layouts, and overall flow? Awesome– you’ll need to search via three different locations that make zero logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not also keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software application built by engineers, for engineers– not everyday entrepreneur.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Obtained Real Pricey, Genuine Rapid
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge marketing points is the rate. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Appears incredible, appropriate?
However right here’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 billing independently.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t explained clearly.
Want far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Snapshot Pour Thérapeute
The last straw? Viewing 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 things simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was just sending out at hard times or otherwise customizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I had not been sticking around to play investigative while my list decayed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking of changing to GoHighLevel– or any new system– below’s what I desire a person had actually informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped about the latest “innovative” device. But just because every person’s discussing something does not mean it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t always far better. A platform with a clean, intuitive interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines in the future– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Covert costs are the most awful. Select devices that are ahead of time concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your monthly bill.
4. Listen to Genuine Users (Not Just Online Marketers)
Examine objective testimonials, user online forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on real customer experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, easy to use system to run your company, I have actually examined a bunch. Below are a couple of I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it just works. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for little to mid-sized organizations with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for task management, group collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might work for some. But for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s actually not working in your current configuration. Don’t shed your systems down even if something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will thanks.