You understand that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a terrific idea, just to recognize later … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I made a decision to change my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. Yet actually? It turned into among one of the most excruciating software decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my company.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with exactly what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, a lot more reliable methods to expand your company. Just … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Right here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream come to life. A single platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever managed a Monster pile of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you understand how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), yet still– I obtained enticed in by the pledge of streamlining whatever under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor instance of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That In Fact Worked)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I needed. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in places, and occasionally things took a couple of even more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just started asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), supplied much more features, and all the cool online marketers on the internet seemed to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That curiosity cost me more than just cash– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Change
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and basically trying to replicate my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Lots of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom kinds, landing pages, activates … whatever
Allow’s not also discuss the lost performance throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to identify where the heck basic setups were.
And just when I thought points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Slipping In
In the beginning, everything looked fine. But then, out of no place, individuals on my checklist started getting e-mails they weren’t intended to get. I’m speaking completely pointless messages– sent out in sets of 171 users at once. 3 days in a row.
Total disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I contacted assistance. They blamed “server problems.” However absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t vanish. Visualize getting up every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just annoying– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is built on count on, you can not manage to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Now, I do not anticipate excellence from any system. Bugs take place. But when they do? I expect the support group to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen here.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into the void while my business melted. On the other hand, every min I spent fixing was a minute I had not been serving customers or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a device and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Voice AI.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in strange places. Even straightforward jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. Intend to change item settings, web page layouts, and overall circulation? Cool– you’ll require to search via 3 various locations that make no logical sense. Half the time, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds previously.
It felt like utilizing software application constructed by engineers, for designers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Got Real Pricey, Real Rapid
Let’s talk cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Sounds remarkable, appropriate?
However here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing individually.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t explained clearly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Voice AI
The last straw? Viewing my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and points simply worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was just sending at bad times or otherwise individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t remaining to play investigative while my list decomposed.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new platform– below’s what I wish somebody had actually told me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to obtain hyped concerning the latest “advanced” device. Yet even if everyone’s talking about something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t constantly better. A system with a tidy, intuitive interface will certainly save you time and migraines in the long run– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Transparency
Concealed costs are the most awful. Choose devices that are ahead of time concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your regular monthly expense.
4. Listen to Real Individuals (Not Just Marketers)
Inspect honest testimonials, user discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual user experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, user-friendly platform to run your organization, I’ve checked a number. Right here are a few I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, strong assistance, and it simply functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for little to mid-sized businesses with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Superb for project management, group collaboration, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may work for some. But also for me? It was a discouraging, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s really not operating in your current 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 thank you.