You know that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful concept, only to realize later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I chose to change my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. But in reality? It developed into one of one of the most uncomfortable software application choices I have actually made in over a decade of running my company.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through precisely what decreased– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, extra efficient methods to grow your organization. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire come true. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit bookings, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you’ve ever juggled a Frankenstein pile of tools just to run your day-to-day, you recognize exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for several years (and liking it, honestly), however still– I got drawn in by the guarantee of streamlining whatever under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor instance of shiny object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did everything I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little dated in position, and occasionally things took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Honestly, I just began asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), offered extra features, and all the amazing marketers online seemed to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That inquisitiveness cost me greater than simply money– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Price Me to Change
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, restoring workflows, and essentially attempting to replicate my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Lots of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Personalized forms, landing pages, sets off … everything
Let’s not also talk about the lost productivity during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to find out where the hell fundamental settings were.
And just when I thought things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
At first, everything looked fine. But after that, out of no place, people on my list began getting emails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m talking entirely unnecessary messages– sent out in sets of 171 users each time. 3 days straight.
Complete turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I contacted support. They condemned “server concerns.” But nothing made sense, and the problem really did not go away. Think of awakening every early morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just annoying– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is built on trust fund, you can’t pay for to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t expect excellence from any type of platform. Insects take place. Yet when they do? I expect the support team to step up quickly.
That really did not take place below.
Responses were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into deep space while my service melted. At the same time, every min I invested fixing was a minute I had not been serving clients or growing my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a tool and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel UpViral.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were buried in unusual areas. Also straightforward jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. Intend to alter product settings, page formats, and total circulation? Amazing– you’ll need to hunt through 3 various areas that make zero rational sense. Half the moment, I could not even remember where I ‘d clicked something ten secs previously.
It felt like making use of software program built by engineers, for engineers– not day-to-day entrepreneur.
The “Affordable” Plan That Obtained Actual Pricey, Genuine Fast
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Sounds outstanding, right?
However here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing individually.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And getting worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel UpViral
The last straw? Seeing my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Possibly the system was just sending at bad times or not personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t staying to play investigator while my list rotted.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new system– below’s what I wish a person had actually informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped regarding the latest “advanced” device. However even if everyone’s discussing something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly better. A system with a tidy, user-friendly interface will certainly save you time and headaches in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Covert prices are the most awful. Pick tools that are in advance regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your regular monthly expense.
4. Listen to Actual Users (Not Simply Marketers)
Inspect honest evaluations, user online forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of actual individual experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, user-friendly platform to run your business, I’ve examined a number. Here are a few I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it simply functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for little to mid-sized companies with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Wonderful for job administration, team partnership, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically great for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may benefit some. But for me? It was a frustrating, pricey experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your present configuration. Do not burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thanks.