You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a great idea, only to understand later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I made a decision to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. But actually? It turned into among one of the most agonizing software application decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my business.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through exactly what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, a lot more efficient ways to grow your business. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream happened. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever before managed a Frankenstein stack of devices simply to run your daily, you understand how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for years (and loving it, truthfully), but still– I got enticed in by the pledge of streamlining every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad case of shiny item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I required. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface felt a little outdated in position, and sometimes things took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), offered much more features, and all the trendy marketing professionals online appeared to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Switch over
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and generally trying to reproduce my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, causes … whatever
Let’s not also discuss the shed performance throughout those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the heck standard settings were.
And just when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Slipping In
At first, everything looked fine. However after that, out of no place, individuals on my listing began obtaining emails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m speaking totally unnecessary messages– sent in sets of 171 users at once. 3 days straight.
Complete disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I contacted assistance. They condemned “web server concerns.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not vanish. Think of getting up every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just frustrating– it threatens. When your entire brand is built on depend on, you can’t pay for to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I do not expect perfection from any type of system. Bugs occur. However when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up fast.
That didn’t occur below.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling into deep space while my service burned. Meanwhile, every min I spent fixing was a min I wasn’t serving customers or expanding my company.
For a tool that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before make use of a tool and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Supercharged SaaS Program.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in odd locations. Even basic jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. Intend to change item settings, page formats, and general flow? Cool– you’ll need to quest with 3 various areas that make zero logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not even bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It seemed like utilizing software application built by engineers, for engineers– not day-to-day business owners.
The “Affordable” Plan That Got Real Pricey, Real Rapid
Let’s speak money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Appears outstanding, best?
However here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing independently.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Desire much 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 been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Supercharged SaaS Program
The final straw? Enjoying my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were called in, and things just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was just sending at hard times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play detective while my list decayed.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about changing to GoHighLevel– or any new system– right here’s what I wish someone had informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to get hyped about the most recent “revolutionary” tool. But just because everybody’s speaking about something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly interface will save you time and migraines in the long run– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Openness
Concealed expenses are the worst. Pick tools that are ahead of time about pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your monthly costs.
4. Listen to Genuine Individuals (Not Just Online Marketers)
Examine honest testimonials, customer online forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on real user experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, easy to use system to run your organization, I have actually evaluated a number. Here are a few I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it just works. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for tiny to mid-sized services with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for project management, group partnership, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may work for some. But also for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s truly not working in your existing configuration. Do not shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will thank you.