You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful concept, only to realize later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I chose to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But in reality? It turned into among the most excruciating software choices I’ve made in over a decade of running my service.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with exactly what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always searching for smarter, more effective methods to grow your service. Simply … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Below’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A single platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you’ve ever managed a Frankenstein pile of devices just to run your day-to-day, you know exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for many years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I obtained drawn in by the assurance of streamlining whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative instance of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little outdated in position, and occasionally points took a few even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just started wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), supplied a lot more features, and all the amazing marketing professionals on-line seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That curiosity cost me more than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Cost Me to Switch over
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and generally trying to reproduce my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Customized kinds, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Allow’s not also talk about the shed performance during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to determine where the heck standard settings were.
And simply when I thought points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Sneaking In
At first, everything looked okay. But after that, out of no place, individuals on my list began obtaining e-mails they weren’t expected to receive. I’m speaking totally unnecessary messages– sent out in sets of 171 customers at a time. 3 days in a row.
Overall disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I called support. They condemned “server concerns.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t go away. Picture waking up every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on trust, you can not afford to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t expect excellence from any type of platform. Bugs occur. Yet when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up fast.
That really did not occur right here.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into deep space while my organization melted. Meanwhile, every minute I invested repairing was a minute I had not been offering customers or expanding my firm.
For a device that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a device and just really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Two Way Gmail Sync.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in odd areas. Even straightforward jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. Intend to transform product settings, page formats, and general circulation? Awesome– you’ll need to search via 3 different locations that make no rational sense. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even remember where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It seemed like making use of software constructed by designers, for engineers– not everyday company owner.
The “Economical” Plan That Got Actual Expensive, Genuine Rapid
Let’s speak money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems impressive, appropriate?
But here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing separately.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Two Way Gmail Sync
The final straw? Seeing my email open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and things just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were nearly missing. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at bad times or otherwise personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been sticking around to play detective while my list deteriorated.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– here’s what I want somebody had actually told me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped regarding the latest “innovative” tool. But even if every person’s speaking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your present system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t always far better. A system with a clean, instinctive interface will save you time and migraines in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Surprise prices are the worst. Pick devices that are ahead of time concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month costs.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Individuals (Not Simply Marketing Experts)
Check honest reviews, individual forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to real customer experience– not just glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, easy to use platform to run your organization, I have actually evaluated a number. Here are a few I ‘d really recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it simply functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for small to mid-sized organizations with solid coverage tools.
Monday.com— Superb for project monitoring, group partnership, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might work for some. However, for me? It was an aggravating, costly experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s truly not operating in your current configuration. Don’t shed your systems down even if something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thank you.