You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a great idea, just to realize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I chose to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in truth? It became one of one of the most uncomfortable software choices I’ve made in over a years of running my service.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you with specifically what decreased– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, extra efficient methods to expand your service. Just … not like this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire come true. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever handled a Monster pile of devices simply to run your daily, you recognize exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for several years (and liking it, truthfully), yet still– I obtained drawn in by the promise of streamlining whatever under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor case of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did everything I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface really felt a little dated in position, and in some cases things took a few even more clicks than I liked, however hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (externally), offered extra features, and all the amazing marketers on-line appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That interest cost me more than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, rebuilding workflows, and basically trying to duplicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Dozens of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Personalized forms, landing pages, activates … whatever
Let’s not also speak about the lost productivity during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the heck basic settings were.
And just when I believed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
Initially, whatever looked fine. However then, out of nowhere, people on my list began obtaining emails they weren’t supposed to get. I’m speaking totally pointless messages– sent in batches of 171 users each time. 3 days in a row.
Overall turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from square one. Still taken place. I got in touch with assistance. They condemned “server problems.” Yet absolutely nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t vanish. Picture awakening every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply annoying– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is improved trust fund, you can’t manage to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate perfection from any kind of system. Insects take place. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up fast.
That didn’t happen below.
Reactions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into deep space while my business shed. At the same time, every minute I invested fixing was a minute I had not been offering clients or expanding my firm.
For a device that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever make use of a tool and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Vapi AI.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in strange locations. Even simple jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. Wish to transform item setups, page layouts, and total flow? Trendy– you’ll need to hunt via three various locations that make no sensible sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not even keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It felt like utilizing software program built by designers, for designers– not day-to-day entrepreneur.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Actual Pricey, Genuine Quick
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s large marketing points is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Appears incredible, right?
Yet right here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment separately.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Desire much better e-mail 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 getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Vapi AI
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were virtually missing. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was simply sending out at hard times or not individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t lingering to play detective while my listing decayed.
Lessons I Found Out by hand
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– right here’s what I desire someone had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped about the most up to date “innovative” tool. However just because everybody’s discussing something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your current system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Extra isn’t always far better. A system with a tidy, intuitive interface will certainly conserve you time and frustrations in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Hidden expenses are the most awful. Select tools that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your regular monthly bill.
4. Listen to Real Customers (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Check impartial reviews, user forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual customer experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, straightforward system to run your organization, I’ve examined a number. Here are a couple of I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it just functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for small to mid-sized services with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Superb for job management, team collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially wonderful for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may help some. But for me? It was a frustrating, costly 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 actually not working in your existing arrangement. Don’t melt your systems down just because something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will thank you.