You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s an excellent concept, just to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I made a decision to switch my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. But in reality? It turned into one of one of the most agonizing software program 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 via exactly what dropped– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, a lot more reliable methods to grow your business. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire become a reality. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before juggled a Monster pile of devices just to run your daily, you recognize how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for years (and loving it, honestly), however still– I obtained drawn in by the guarantee of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad situation of shiny things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface really felt a little dated in position, and in some cases things took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Honestly, I just started asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), supplied much more features, and all the cool marketers on-line appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That inquisitiveness price me greater than just money– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Switch over
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and generally trying to duplicate my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Customized forms, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Allow’s not even speak about the shed productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and attempting to determine where the hell fundamental settings were.
And simply when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Sneaking In
In the beginning, every little thing looked fine. Yet after that, out of no place, people on my listing started obtaining emails they weren’t expected to receive. I’m chatting entirely unnecessary messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at once. 3 days straight.
Complete mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I spoke to support. They criticized “server issues.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t go away. Imagine waking up every morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is built on count on, you can not manage to look like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any kind of platform. Insects occur. However when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up fast.
That really did not occur below.
Actions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into the void while my business melted. At the same time, every min I invested repairing was a minute I wasn’t offering clients or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before use a device and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Valuation.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in weird locations. Even straightforward jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. Want to change product settings, web page formats, and general circulation? Awesome– you’ll require to search with 3 different locations that make no rational feeling. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t also remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It felt like using software built by designers, for designers– not daily local business owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Real Expensive, Genuine Rapid
Let’s chat money.
One of GoHighLevel’s large selling factors is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Seems incredible, best?
However below’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing individually.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t explained clearly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Valuation
The last straw? Watching my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was just sending out at bad times or otherwise customizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t lingering to play investigative while my listing decomposed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking about changing to GoHighLevel– or any new platform– right here’s what I wish somebody had actually informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to get hyped concerning the latest “innovative” device. However even if everyone’s speaking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t always much better. A platform with a tidy, user-friendly interface will certainly save you time and headaches over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Surprise expenses are the most awful. Choose tools that are ahead of time concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your regular monthly costs.
4. Pay Attention to Real Individuals (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Check impartial evaluations, customer discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on real individual experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, user-friendly platform to run your service, I have actually tested a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it just functions. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for services that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for small to mid-sized companies with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Superb for project administration, group partnership, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But for me? It was an aggravating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your present configuration. Do not shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thanks.