You understand that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent idea, just to recognize later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I chose to change my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. But in reality? It turned into among one of the most unpleasant software decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my business.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through exactly what decreased– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, a lot more effective means to expand your service. Simply … not such as this.
The Seductive All-in-One Promise
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire come true. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, payments– you name it.
If you’ve ever before juggled a Frankenstein stack of devices simply to run your daily, you recognize exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for many years (and loving it, honestly), however still– I got drawn in by the promise of streamlining whatever under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad case of glossy things syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in position, and in some cases points took a couple of more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Truthfully, I simply started wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), supplied more features, and all the cool marketing experts on the internet seemed to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Cost Me to Switch
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, rebuilding workflows, and essentially attempting to reproduce my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel framework
- Custom-made forms, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Allow’s not also talk about the shed performance throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and attempting to identify where the heck basic settings were.
And just when I assumed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Slipping In
In the beginning, whatever looked all right. However after that, out of no place, people on my listing began obtaining e-mails they weren’t intended to obtain. I’m chatting completely irrelevant messages– sent in sets of 171 users at a time. Three days straight.
Overall turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still happened. I spoke to support. They condemned “server concerns.” Yet nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not go away. Think of waking up every morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just annoying– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is improved depend on, you can not pay for to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I do not anticipate perfection from any kind of platform. Bugs happen. However when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen right here.
Reactions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling into deep space while my service melted. On the other hand, every minute I spent repairing was a minute I wasn’t offering customers or growing my company.
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 before make use of a device and simply feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Vs Flozy.
The UX was confusing. Things were buried in unusual areas. Also straightforward jobs like editing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. Want to transform item setups, web page designs, and overall circulation? Cool– you’ll require to quest via 3 different areas that make zero logical sense. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds previously.
It felt like utilizing software program developed by engineers, for engineers– not everyday entrepreneur.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Got Actual Costly, Real Fast
Let’s speak money.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing points is the price. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Seems outstanding, appropriate?
Yet below’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment separately.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Vs Flozy
The last straw? Watching my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were called in, and things simply worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually missing. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was simply sending out at bad times or not customizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t lingering to play investigator while my checklist rotted.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– right here’s what I wish someone had told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped regarding the latest “revolutionary” device. But just because everyone’s speaking about something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
More isn’t always better. A system with a tidy, intuitive interface will save you time and headaches in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Concealed prices are the most awful. Select devices that are in advance concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your month-to-month bill.
4. Pay Attention to Real Users (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Check impartial reviews, customer discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of real user experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, straightforward system to run your organization, I’ve examined a lot. Below are a few I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it just works. Well worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for small to mid-sized companies with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Superb for job management, team collaboration, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may benefit some. However, for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s really not operating in your current setup. Don’t shed your systems down even if something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will thank you.