You know that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful idea, just to understand later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I chose to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. But in truth? It turned into one of the most excruciating software decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my service.
So before you jump 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 means to grow your business. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you have actually ever managed a Monster stack of tools just to run your everyday, you recognize exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been utilizing Keap for years (and liking it, truthfully), however still– I got lured in by the pledge of streamlining whatever under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative case of shiny item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in places, and often things took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, but hey, it worked.
So why change?
Honestly, I just started wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), supplied much more features, and all the cool marketing professionals online appeared to be going crazy concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That curiosity expense me greater than simply money– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Price Me to Change
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, reconstructing workflows, and generally trying to replicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail subscribers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Personalized kinds, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Allow’s not even discuss the shed performance during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the hell standard setups were.
And just when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
In the beginning, every little thing looked fine. Yet then, out of no place, people on my listing started obtaining e-mails they weren’t intended to get. I’m talking totally pointless messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at once. 3 days straight.
Complete turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I called support. They criticized “server issues.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not go away. Visualize getting up every early morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is improved trust, you can’t afford to look like a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I do not anticipate excellence from any kind of system. Bugs happen. However when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up quick.
That didn’t occur below.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting right into the void while my business burned. On the other hand, every minute I invested fixing was a minute I had not been serving clients or expanding my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a device and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Voiceflow.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in odd locations. Even easy jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. Intend to transform product settings, web page formats, and total flow? Awesome– you’ll require to hunt through 3 different areas that make zero logical feeling. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs previously.
It seemed like using software program built by designers, for engineers– not everyday local business owner.
The “Economical” Plan That Obtained Genuine Expensive, Real Quick
Let’s talk cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the price. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Seems fantastic, best?
Yet right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Voiceflow
The final straw? Watching my email open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were called in, and things just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was simply sending out at hard times or not individualizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play investigative while my listing rotted.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new system– here’s what I desire a person had informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to get hyped regarding the latest “revolutionary” tool. However even if everybody’s discussing something does not imply it’s right for you. If your current system is working, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t always far better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly user interface will conserve you time and frustrations in the future– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed prices are the most awful. Select devices that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your month-to-month bill.
4. Listen to Actual Users (Not Simply Online Marketers)
Inspect unbiased evaluations, customer discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on real individual experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, easy to use platform to run your business, I have actually evaluated a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it simply functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for small to mid-sized businesses with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for job monitoring, team partnership, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically terrific for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may work for some. But also for me? It was an irritating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your current setup. Do not burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.