You know that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific concept, just to realize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I decided to change my entire agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet actually? It turned into among one of the most painful software program 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 with specifically what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, a lot more efficient means to grow your organization. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire come true. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever before juggled a Frankenstein pile of devices simply to run your daily, you understand exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for several years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I obtained tempted in by the guarantee of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative instance of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation organizing, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the user interface really felt a little outdated in places, and often things took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, but hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), offered more features, and all the trendy online marketers on-line seemed to be raving about it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That curiosity cost me more than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and assurance.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, restoring workflows, and essentially attempting to replicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Dozens of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Customized types, landing pages, triggers … everything
Let’s not even speak about the shed performance throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to identify where the hell fundamental settings were.
And just when I believed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
At first, whatever looked all right. However after that, out of no place, people on my list started getting emails they weren’t intended to get. I’m talking entirely unnecessary messages– sent in sets of 171 customers each time. 3 days in a row.
Total disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I got in touch with support. They criticized “server concerns.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not vanish. Envision getting up every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is built on trust, you can not pay for to look like a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I do not anticipate excellence from any platform. Insects happen. But when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up quickly.
That really did not happen below.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling into the void while my service melted. Meanwhile, every min I spent troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t offering customers or growing my company.
For a device that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before make use of a device and simply feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Vs ConvertKit.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in odd areas. Even easy tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. Wish to alter item setups, web page layouts, and total flow? Amazing– you’ll require to hunt with 3 different locations that make no rational sense. Half the time, I couldn’t also remember where I would certainly clicked something ten secs previously.
It felt like using software built by engineers, for engineers– not everyday local business owner.
The “Affordable” Plan That Got Genuine Costly, Genuine Rapid
Let’s speak cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s big selling points is the price. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Appears amazing, best?
Yet right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You need to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Desire much 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 actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Vs ConvertKit
The final straw? Watching my email open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and things simply functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was just sending out at bad times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I had not been remaining to play investigative while my listing rotted.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new platform– below’s what I wish somebody had actually informed me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped concerning the latest “cutting edge” tool. However just because every person’s speaking about something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your current system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t always far better. A system with a clean, instinctive user interface will conserve you time and headaches over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed expenses are the most awful. Select tools that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your month-to-month expense.
4. Listen to Actual Customers (Not Simply Marketing Experts)
Inspect honest evaluations, customer online forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on real customer experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, straightforward system to run your organization, I have actually examined a bunch. Right here are a couple of I ‘d really recommend:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it just works. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized companies with solid reporting devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task administration, team collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly terrific for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may work for some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your current setup. Do not burn your systems down even if something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will thank you.