You know that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a terrific idea, just to recognize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I determined to change my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. Yet actually? It turned into among one of the most uncomfortable software decisions I have actually made in over a years of running my business.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with precisely what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, much more reliable ways to expand your service. Simply … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream become a reality. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever before juggled a Frankenstein stack of tools just to run your daily, you understand exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for several years (and enjoying it, truthfully), however still– I got tempted in by the assurance of simplifying whatever under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative instance of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little outdated in position, and occasionally things took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I simply began wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied much more features, and all the trendy marketing professionals on-line appeared to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That interest expense me greater than just cash– it cost me time, power, and satisfaction.
What It Cost Me to Change
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and generally attempting to replicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom-made types, landing pages, causes … every little thing
Let’s not also talk about the lost performance throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to find out where the heck fundamental setups were.
And just when I believed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
At first, whatever looked all right. Yet then, out of nowhere, people on my listing began getting e-mails they weren’t intended to receive. I’m chatting entirely irrelevant messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals each time. Three days straight.
Overall chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still taken place. I got in touch with support. They blamed “web server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not go away. Picture waking up every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is improved trust fund, you can not pay for to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong emails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I do not expect perfection from any type of platform. Bugs take place. However when they do? I expect the support team to step up fast.
That didn’t occur right here.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into deep space while my organization burned. On the other hand, every min I spent repairing was a min I wasn’t offering customers or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before make use of a device and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Travel Agency Playbook.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in weird locations. Even easy tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. Want to transform product setups, page designs, and general circulation? Trendy– you’ll require to hunt with 3 different locations that make no rational sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even remember where I would certainly clicked something ten secs earlier.
It felt like using software developed by engineers, for designers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Actual Costly, Actual Rapid
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the cost. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, right?
But right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing separately.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Desire much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Travel Agency Playbook
The last straw? Watching my email open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Perhaps the system was just sending out at hard times or not personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t remaining to play investigative while my listing rotted.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re considering switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new platform– below’s what I desire someone had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped about the latest “innovative” device. But just because everybody’s discussing something does not mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly much better. A platform with a clean, instinctive interface will conserve you time and frustrations in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden prices are the most awful. Select devices that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your month-to-month costs.
4. Pay Attention to Real Users (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Examine unbiased evaluations, individual forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to real individual experience– not simply slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, user-friendly platform to run your company, I have actually tested a number. Below are a couple of I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it simply functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for tiny to mid-sized companies with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for project monitoring, team cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may help some. But for me? It was an aggravating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s truly not working in your existing configuration. Do not burn your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thanks.