You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic concept, only to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I determined to switch my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. However in reality? It turned into among the most excruciating software decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my business.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via specifically what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, a lot more reliable ways to grow your business. Simply … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream come to life. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you’ve ever before juggled a Frankenstein stack of tools just to run your day-to-day, you understand just how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and loving it, truthfully), but still– I got enticed in by the promise of simplifying every little thing under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor case of glossy item syndrome.
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, appointment organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little dated in places, and sometimes things took a few more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply started asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), provided a lot more features, and all the amazing online marketers on-line seemed to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That interest cost me greater than just money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, restoring workflows, and primarily trying to duplicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Personalized forms, landing pages, sets off … whatever
Allow’s not even discuss the lost performance during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to identify where the hell basic settings were.
And simply when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
Initially, every little thing looked all right. However after that, out of no place, individuals on my list started getting emails they weren’t expected to receive. I’m speaking totally unnecessary messages– sent out in batches of 171 users each time. Three days straight.
Overall disorder.
I restore the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I spoke to support. They condemned “web server issues.” But nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t go away. Visualize awakening every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on trust fund, you can’t afford to appear like an unaware amateur blowing up the incorrect emails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I don’t expect perfection from any kind of platform. Pests occur. Yet when they do? I expect the support team to step up quick.
That didn’t take place below.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming right into the void while my organization shed. On the other hand, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t offering clients or expanding my company.
For a tool that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a device and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Triggers.
The UX was confusing. Points were hidden in weird areas. Also basic tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. Want to change item settings, web page layouts, and general flow? Cool– you’ll need to hunt through 3 various areas that make zero sensible feeling. Fifty percent the time, I could not even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten secs earlier.
It seemed like making use of software built by designers, for engineers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Genuine Expensive, Actual Fast
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Sounds incredible, ideal?
But right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing independently.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Desire better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Triggers
The last straw? Watching my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and points simply worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Possibly the system was simply sending out at hard times or otherwise individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t remaining to play investigative while my list rotted.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re considering switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of new system– here’s what I want a person had informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to get hyped about the latest “revolutionary” tool. However even if every person’s discussing something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your current system is working, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t always better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly interface will certainly conserve you time and headaches over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Surprise expenses are the most awful. Choose tools that are upfront about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your regular monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Individuals (Not Just Marketers)
Examine honest reviews, user online forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of real user experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward system to run your service, I’ve tested a bunch. Right here are a few I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful 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 service for tiny to mid-sized services with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Amazing for task administration, team partnership, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may work for some. But also for me? It was a discouraging, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your present configuration. Don’t melt your systems down even if something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.