You know that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic concept, only to realize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I made a decision to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in reality? It turned into among the most uncomfortable software program choices I have actually made in over a years of running my business.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via exactly what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, a lot more reliable methods to grow your service. Simply … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Below’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire become a reality. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein stack of tools simply to run your daily, you understand just how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for years (and enjoying it, honestly), yet still– I obtained lured in by the promise of simplifying everything under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative case of shiny object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did everything I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in places, and in some cases points took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied more features, and all the cool marketing professionals on the internet seemed to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That curiosity price me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating data, reconstructing workflows, and primarily trying to reproduce my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Lots of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Personalized kinds, landing pages, causes … whatever
Let’s not even talk about the shed efficiency throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to figure out where the heck fundamental setups were.
And just when I assumed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Creeping In
At first, whatever looked fine. But then, out of no place, individuals on my list began getting e-mails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m chatting completely unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals at a time. Three days in a row.
Complete turmoil.
I restore the automations from scratch. Still happened. I got in touch with assistance. They criticized “server concerns.” However nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t go away. Think of waking up every early morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on trust fund, you can’t manage to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong emails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any platform. Pests occur. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quick.
That didn’t take place right here.
Actions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into the void while my company melted. On the other hand, every minute I invested fixing was a minute I wasn’t offering clients or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Summer Camp.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were hidden in unusual places. Also simple tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. Want to change item settings, web page formats, and overall circulation? Great– you’ll need to search with 3 different areas that make zero sensible feeling. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs previously.
It felt like utilizing software application built by engineers, for designers– not day-to-day business owners.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Actual Costly, Genuine Fast
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s large marketing factors is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Appears remarkable, right?
However right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Want far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Summer Camp
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was just sending at hard times or otherwise customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been lingering to play detective while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new platform– right here’s what I desire a person had actually informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped concerning the latest “revolutionary” device. Yet just because every person’s speaking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly far better. A system with a clean, user-friendly user interface will conserve you time and migraines in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed expenses are the most awful. Pick tools that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your monthly expense.
4. Listen to Genuine Individuals (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Examine unbiased testimonials, customer discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of real user experience– not simply slick sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, user-friendly system to run your service, I have actually tested a lot. Here are a few I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it simply functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for small to mid-sized companies with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Amazing for task management, team partnership, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may work for some. But for me? It was a frustrating, costly experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your current arrangement. Don’t burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will thanks.