You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a great concept, just to realize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I made a decision to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. Yet actually? It turned into among the most uncomfortable software decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my company.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through exactly what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, extra efficient methods to expand your company. Simply … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before managed a Monster pile of tools simply to run your daily, you recognize exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for many years (and liking it, truthfully), however still– I got tempted in by the assurance of streamlining whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad situation of shiny object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little dated in places, and in some cases things took a few more clicks than I liked, however hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just started wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), offered much more features, and all the great online marketers online appeared to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That interest cost me greater than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Cost Me to Change
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, reconstructing workflows, and primarily trying to duplicate my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Dozens of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Customized kinds, landing pages, sets off … every little thing
Allow’s not even talk about the lost productivity throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the heck fundamental setups were.
And simply when I thought things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
Initially, whatever looked fine. However then, out of nowhere, people on my listing began obtaining emails they weren’t supposed to receive. I’m talking entirely unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals at once. Three days in a row.
Total mayhem.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still happened. I got in touch with support. They blamed “server concerns.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not vanish. Imagine waking up every early morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just frustrating– it threatens. When your whole brand name is built on count on, you can not manage to look like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t anticipate perfection from any platform. Insects take place. However when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen here.
Responses were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting right into deep space while my service burned. Meanwhile, every min I invested fixing was a minute I wasn’t offering customers or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever utilize a device and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Starter Vs Unlimited.
The UX was clunky. Points were hidden in strange places. Also easy tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Wish to change product setups, web page layouts, and overall circulation? Cool– you’ll need to hunt through three different locations that make zero sensible sense. Half the time, I couldn’t also remember where I would certainly clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It felt like using software program built by engineers, for engineers– not daily local business owner.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Got Genuine Pricey, Actual Rapid
Let’s speak cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the rate. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears outstanding, right?
But here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing independently.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Desire far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Starter Vs Unlimited
The final straw? Seeing my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was simply sending out at bad times or otherwise personalizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I had not been staying to play investigator while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new system– below’s what I wish a person had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to get hyped about the most up to date “advanced” tool. But even if every person’s speaking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a tidy, user-friendly user interface will save you time and frustrations in the long run– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert prices are the worst. Pick tools that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your month-to-month bill.
4. Pay Attention to Real Individuals (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Examine objective evaluations, user discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual customer experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, straightforward platform to run your service, I have actually checked a number. Here are a few I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it simply works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized services with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Great for project monitoring, group cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But for me? It was an aggravating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s truly not operating in your current setup. Do not shed your systems down even if something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thanks.