You know that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a great concept, just to recognize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I made a decision to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But actually? It turned into one of one of the most unpleasant software choices I have actually made in over a years of running my company.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through specifically what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always seeking smarter, extra reliable methods to expand your company. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire happened. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever handled a Frankenstein pile of devices just to run your daily, you understand exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for several years (and liking it, truthfully), yet still– I got enticed in by the assurance of streamlining every little thing under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor instance of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface felt a little dated in places, and in some cases things took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I simply began wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), provided much more features, and all the trendy online marketers on the internet appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medication.
That curiosity expense me greater than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and peace of mind.
What It Cost Me to Switch over
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and essentially attempting to duplicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Custom types, landing pages, sets off … whatever
Allow’s not even speak about the lost efficiency during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to figure out where the heck standard settings were.
And simply when I assumed points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Slipping In
Initially, everything looked all right. But after that, out of no place, people on my listing began getting e-mails they weren’t intended to obtain. I’m talking completely pointless messages– sent out in batches of 171 customers at a time. 3 days straight.
Overall chaos.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I spoke to assistance. They blamed “server issues.” Yet nothing made sense, and the trouble didn’t vanish. Imagine getting up every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on depend on, you can not pay for to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not anticipate perfection from any type of platform. Pests take place. However when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen right here.
Reactions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming right into the void while my service melted. On the other hand, every min I spent repairing was a min I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my firm.
For a device that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a tool and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Virtual Assistant.
The UX was clunky. Points were hidden in unusual places. Even simple tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. Intend to change product setups, page layouts, and overall flow? Awesome– you’ll require to quest through 3 various areas that make zero sensible sense. Half the time, I could not even keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds previously.
It seemed like making use of software program constructed by designers, for engineers– not daily company owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Genuine Pricey, Genuine Quick
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the price. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Seems fantastic, ideal?
However below’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Want much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Virtual Assistant
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and things simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was simply sending out at hard times or not personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigator while my list deteriorated.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– below’s what I wish a person had informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to obtain hyped about the most up to date “advanced” tool. However just because every person’s talking about something does not imply it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t always far better. A platform with a clean, intuitive user interface will certainly conserve you time and headaches over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert prices are the most awful. Select devices that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your monthly costs.
4. Listen to Genuine Individuals (Not Just Marketers)
Check impartial evaluations, customer discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to actual customer experience– not just glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, user-friendly system to run your company, I have actually examined a lot. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it simply works. Worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for little to mid-sized organizations with solid reporting devices.
Monday.com— Wonderful for task monitoring, group partnership, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly terrific for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might work for some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, pricey experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your present setup. Don’t 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 thank you.