You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent idea, only to recognize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I decided to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. But actually? It turned into among the most unpleasant software decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my company.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through exactly what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, much more reliable methods to grow your service. Simply … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a desire come true. A single system to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, payments– you call it.
If you’ve ever juggled a Frankenstein pile of tools just to run your day-to-day, you recognize exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for many years (and liking it, truthfully), however still– I obtained lured in by the promise of simplifying everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a bad instance of shiny object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did everything I required. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface felt a little dated in places, and in some cases points took a few more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it worked.
So why change?
Honestly, I just began wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (on the surface), provided a lot more features, and all the amazing marketing professionals online seemed to be raving about it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That interest expense me more than just cash– it cost me time, power, and assurance.
What It Cost Me to Switch
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, reconstructing workflows, and generally attempting to reproduce my entire Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Custom-made forms, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Let’s not even discuss the lost productivity during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to figure out where the heck fundamental setups were.
And simply when I assumed points were functioning … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Slipping In
Initially, whatever looked alright. But then, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started obtaining e-mails they weren’t supposed to receive. I’m talking totally unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 users at a time. 3 days straight.
Overall turmoil.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I spoke to support. They blamed “server problems.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not go away. Visualize waking up every morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just annoying– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is improved trust fund, you can’t afford to look like an unaware amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t expect excellence from any type of platform. Pests take place. However when they do? I anticipate the support group to step up fast.
That didn’t happen here.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming into the void while my organization melted. At the same time, every minute I invested troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t offering clients or expanding my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel certain really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a device and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Vs Kartra.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in odd areas. Also easy 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. Intend to alter product settings, web page designs, and general circulation? Amazing– you’ll need to hunt through 3 various areas that make zero logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even remember where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs previously.
It seemed like making use of software developed by designers, for designers– not daily local business owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Genuine Costly, Real Rapid
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the price. I suggest, $97/month for all those features? Appears outstanding, ideal?
But below’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay added per email if you use their SMTP.
You need to attach services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing independently.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Want far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I added every little thing up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Vs Kartra
The last straw? Viewing my email open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My target market was engaged, my automations were called in, and points just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was just sending out at bad times or otherwise individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been sticking around to play investigative while my checklist decomposed.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– here’s what I want someone had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to obtain hyped about the most recent “cutting edge” tool. Yet just because everyone’s speaking about something does not suggest it’s right for you. If your present system is working, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly better. A platform with a tidy, intuitive user interface will save you time and migraines in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Openness
Hidden costs are the most awful. Choose tools that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your regular monthly expense.
4. Listen to Real Users (Not Just Online Marketers)
Check impartial reviews, individual online forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on real customer experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reputable, user-friendly system to run your company, I’ve checked a number. Here are a couple of I ‘d actually advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it simply functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for little to mid-sized organizations with solid coverage devices.
Monday.com— Superb for job administration, group cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might help some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s truly not operating in your current setup. Don’t shed your systems down just because something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your clients) will thanks.