You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic idea, only to realize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I determined to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. However in reality? It became among one of the most painful software choices I’ve made in over a years of running my business.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through precisely what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, a lot more efficient means to grow your service. Simply … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire happened. A single platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you’ve ever juggled a Monster pile of devices just to run your daily, you recognize how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for many years (and loving it, truthfully), but still– I obtained drawn in by the guarantee of simplifying everything under one roof covering.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative situation of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did whatever I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface really felt a little dated in position, and occasionally points took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I simply started questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), provided more features, and all the great marketing professionals online appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That curiosity expense me greater than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and primarily trying to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom forms, landing pages, activates … whatever
Allow’s not also talk about the lost productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to figure out where the hell fundamental setups were.
And simply when I believed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Slipping In
At first, whatever looked okay. Yet after that, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started getting emails they weren’t supposed to get. I’m speaking entirely pointless messages– sent in batches of 171 customers at once. Three days straight.
Total disorder.
I restore the automations from square one. Still taken place. I called support. They condemned “server issues.” However absolutely nothing made sense, and the trouble didn’t vanish. Visualize awakening every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just frustrating– it threatens. When your entire brand is built on depend on, you can not afford to look like an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any platform. Bugs take place. Yet when they do? I expect the support group to step up quickly.
That really did not take place here.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into deep space while my business burned. At the same time, every minute I invested fixing was a min I wasn’t offering customers or growing my firm.
For a tool that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever utilize a device and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Vs Builderall.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in weird locations. Even basic tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. Wish to alter product settings, web page formats, and general circulation? Cool– you’ll require to quest with three different areas that make no logical feeling. Half the time, I couldn’t even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds previously.
It felt like making use of software program developed by engineers, for designers– not everyday entrepreneur.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Real Pricey, Real Rapid
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s large marketing points is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Appears impressive, ideal?
But below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t explained clearly.
Want far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And worsening results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Vs Builderall
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and points just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were nearly missing. Something was clearly off.
Perhaps it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was just sending out at bad times or not personalizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigator while my list decayed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new system– here’s what I want a person had informed me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to get hyped concerning the latest “revolutionary” device. However just because everybody’s discussing something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your current system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t always far better. A platform with a tidy, intuitive interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines in the future– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden prices are the most awful. Select tools that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your monthly expense.
4. Pay Attention to Genuine Individuals (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Check objective testimonials, individual online forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual customer experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, user-friendly system to run your business, I’ve evaluated a lot. Here are a couple of I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it just functions. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for tiny to mid-sized companies with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Superb for task management, group partnership, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly great for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may benefit some. But for me? It was a discouraging, expensive 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 yourself what’s truly not operating in your existing setup. Don’t melt your systems down just because something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.