You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a terrific idea, only to realize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I chose to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. Yet actually? It became among one of the most painful software application choices I have actually made in over a years of running my organization.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via specifically what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, a lot more effective methods to grow your company. Just … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire come to life. A single platform 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 tools just to run your day-to-day, you know how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for years (and enjoying it, truthfully), however still– I got tempted in by the promise of simplifying everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad situation of glossy item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did everything I required. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little outdated in places, and sometimes things took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I just began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), provided much more features, and all the great marketers on the internet seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That interest expense me more than simply money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and generally trying to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, activates … everything
Let’s not also discuss the shed productivity during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to figure out where the heck fundamental settings were.
And simply when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
In the beginning, everything looked all right. However after that, out of no place, individuals on my list began obtaining emails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m speaking totally pointless messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals each time. 3 days in a row.
Total chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I spoke to support. They criticized “server issues.” However nothing made sense, and the issue really did not go away. Visualize waking up every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just bothersome– it threatens. When your whole brand is built on count on, you can not pay for to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any type of system. Insects happen. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quick.
That didn’t occur below.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into deep space while my company melted. Meanwhile, every minute I spent repairing was a min I wasn’t offering customers or growing my firm.
For a device that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a device and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Subscription.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were hidden in weird places. Even basic tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. Want to change product setups, page layouts, and total flow? Awesome– you’ll need to search via three various areas that make absolutely no rational sense. Half the time, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It felt like using software program built by designers, for designers– not daily business owners.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Actual Expensive, Genuine Rapid
Let’s speak cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s large marketing points is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Seems impressive, appropriate?
However here’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 payment independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Want much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
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 good deal– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Subscription
The last straw? Watching my email open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was simply sending at hard times or not personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigative while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– below’s what I want someone had actually informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped concerning the most recent “innovative” tool. But even if every person’s discussing something does not imply 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 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 Transparency
Hidden costs are the most awful. Choose tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your monthly costs.
4. Listen to Actual Individuals (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Examine objective reviews, individual online forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of actual user experience– not simply slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, easy to use platform to run your organization, I’ve evaluated a bunch. Here are a few I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it simply functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for tiny to mid-sized companies with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Great for project management, group cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may benefit some. However, for me? It was an aggravating, costly experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your present arrangement. Do not shed your systems down even if something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.