You understand that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic idea, only to realize later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I decided to switch my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But actually? It developed into among the most agonizing software application decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my company.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through precisely what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, a lot more effective means to expand your organization. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire happened. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein stack of tools just to run your everyday, you know how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I got drawn in by the pledge of simplifying everything under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor instance of shiny things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface felt a little outdated in places, and sometimes things took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I simply started wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), used more features, and all the great marketing experts on the internet appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That interest cost me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, restoring workflows, and generally attempting to replicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Customized kinds, landing pages, sets off … whatever
Allow’s not also talk about the shed efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to identify where the hell fundamental setups were.
And simply when I thought points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Creeping In
At first, whatever looked fine. Yet then, out of nowhere, individuals on my listing started getting emails they weren’t expected to receive. I’m speaking totally pointless messages– sent out in batches of 171 customers at a time. 3 days in a row.
Overall chaos.
I restore the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I spoke to support. They condemned “web server problems.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t go away. Visualize awakening every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just irritating– it threatens. When your entire brand name is improved trust, you can not afford to look like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not expect excellence from any kind of system. Pests take place. But when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quick.
That really did not occur here.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming into the void while my business melted. At the same time, every min I invested troubleshooting was a minute I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a device and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Strategies.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were buried in strange locations. Even simple tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. Want to transform item setups, page formats, and overall circulation? Awesome– you’ll require to hunt with three different areas that make zero logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not also remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs previously.
It seemed like utilizing software constructed by designers, for engineers– not everyday company owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Real Costly, Actual Rapid
Let’s speak cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s big selling points is the cost. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Appears remarkable, appropriate?
However right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment individually.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Want much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Strategies
The last straw? Enjoying my email open prices go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and points just worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly missing. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was simply sending at hard times or otherwise individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I had not been staying to play investigator while my listing decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– right here’s what I desire somebody had told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to obtain hyped about the current “revolutionary” tool. However just because every person’s talking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly better. A system with a clean, instinctive interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines in the long run– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Openness
Concealed prices are the most awful. Pick tools that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Customers (Not Simply Marketing Experts)
Inspect honest reviews, customer discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of real individual experience– not just glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, easy to use platform to run your organization, I have actually evaluated a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it just functions. 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 organizations with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Amazing for job monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may help some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, pricey 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 really not working in your current setup. Don’t melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thanks.