You understand that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s an excellent concept, just to recognize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I made a decision to change my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It turned into among the most agonizing software choices I have actually made in over a years of running my organization.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via specifically what went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, much more efficient ways to expand your service. Just … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Pledge
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A solitary system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before handled a Monster pile of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you understand just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I got drawn in by the pledge of simplifying everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad case of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did whatever I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface felt a little outdated in places, and in some cases things took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just started questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), provided extra features, and all the amazing marketers online appeared to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That interest expense me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Cost Me to Switch over
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and generally attempting to duplicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom forms, landing pages, activates … whatever
Let’s not also talk about the lost productivity during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to determine where the heck standard settings were.
And simply when I thought points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Sneaking In
At first, every little thing looked alright. But then, out of nowhere, people on my list began obtaining e-mails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m talking totally unnecessary messages– sent in batches of 171 customers at once. Three days straight.
Complete turmoil.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I contacted assistance. They blamed “server issues.” But nothing made good sense, and the issue didn’t go away. Picture awakening every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just irritating– it threatens. When your whole brand name is improved trust, you can not afford to resemble a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not anticipate perfection from any system. Bugs take place. However when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up quick.
That really did not happen here.
Reactions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting into the void while my business shed. At the same time, every minute I invested fixing was a minute I wasn’t serving customers or expanding my company.
For a device that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a device and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Vs Airtable.
The UX was clunky. Points were buried in weird locations. Also straightforward jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. Wish to transform item setups, page layouts, and general circulation? Trendy– you’ll need to hunt with 3 different locations that make zero sensible sense. Half the time, I could not also bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten seconds earlier.
It felt like utilizing software application built by designers, for engineers– not daily entrepreneur.
The “Economical” Plan That Obtained Actual Costly, Genuine Fast
Let’s talk money.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge marketing points is the cost. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears remarkable, right?
However below’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment individually.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t discussed clearly.
Want better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Vs Airtable
The final straw? Enjoying my email open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and things just worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Possibly the system was just sending at bad times or otherwise personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I had not been staying to play detective while my listing deteriorated.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of changing to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new platform– right here’s what I want somebody had informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to obtain hyped concerning the most recent “advanced” device. Yet just because everyone’s speaking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t constantly better. A platform with a clean, instinctive interface will certainly save you time and headaches in the long run– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Openness
Surprise costs are the most awful. Pick tools that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your regular monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Customers (Not Just Online Marketers)
Inspect objective reviews, customer discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of actual individual experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, user-friendly system to run your organization, I have actually examined a lot. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it simply functions. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized businesses with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task monitoring, team cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Especially excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might help some. But also for me? It was an irritating, pricey experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s truly not operating in your existing configuration. Don’t melt your systems down just because something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick with what works. Your sanity (and your clients) will certainly thanks.