You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful concept, only to recognize later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s specifically what took place when I made a decision to change my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It became one of one of the most painful software decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my organization.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via exactly what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, much more efficient ways to grow your company. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a desire come true. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, payments– you call it.
If you have actually ever before managed a Frankenstein pile of devices simply to run your everyday, you understand how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for several years (and enjoying it, truthfully), but still– I obtained drawn in by the pledge of simplifying whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor case of shiny object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface felt a little dated in places, and sometimes things took a few even more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply began questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), provided much more features, and all the amazing marketers on the internet appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity price me more than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, rebuilding workflows, and primarily trying to duplicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Lots of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Customized types, landing pages, sets off … whatever
Allow’s not also discuss the shed productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to determine where the hell standard setups were.
And simply when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Creeping In
At first, everything looked fine. But after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my checklist started getting emails they weren’t expected to get. I’m speaking completely irrelevant messages– sent out in batches of 171 users at a time. Three days straight.
Overall turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still happened. I spoke to support. They blamed “server problems.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not disappear. Think of getting up every early morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply annoying– it threatens. When your whole brand is built on count on, you can not manage to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I don’t expect perfection from any platform. Pests take place. Yet when they do? I expect the support team to step up fast.
That didn’t occur below.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming right into the void while my organization shed. On the other hand, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a minute I had not been serving clients or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before utilize a device and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Stock.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were hidden in strange areas. Also straightforward tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. Want to change item setups, page layouts, and total flow? Awesome– you’ll need to hunt with three different areas that make absolutely no logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t also keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It felt like utilizing software application constructed by engineers, for engineers– not day-to-day local business owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Real Pricey, Genuine Quick
Let’s talk cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s big selling points is the price. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Sounds incredible, best?
Yet here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Desire far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
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 bargain– it’s simply negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Stock
The last straw? Viewing my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things simply functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was just sending at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigator while my checklist deteriorated.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about changing to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– below’s what I wish somebody had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped concerning the current “revolutionary” tool. However just because everyone’s discussing something does not imply it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t always much better. A system with a clean, user-friendly user interface will certainly save you time and migraines in the long run– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Openness
Concealed expenses are the worst. Select devices that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Individuals (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Examine honest testimonials, user discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on real individual experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, user-friendly system to run your company, I’ve checked a bunch. Below are a few I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it just works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for tiny to mid-sized organizations with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job administration, group cooperation, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly great for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may work for some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not working in your present configuration. Don’t melt your systems down just because something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will thanks.