You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic idea, only to understand later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I determined to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. Yet actually? It became one of the most unpleasant software choices I have actually made in over a years of running my company.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you via specifically what dropped– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly seeking smarter, extra effective ways to expand your business. Simply … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Guarantee
Right here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A single platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit bookings, automation, payments– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein stack of devices just to run your daily, you know exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for several years (and liking it, truthfully), however still– I obtained drawn in by the assurance of streamlining every little thing under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative case of shiny object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did whatever I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little dated in places, and in some cases points took a few even more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I just began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), used much more features, and all the awesome marketing professionals on-line seemed to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than just money– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, reconstructing workflows, and primarily trying to duplicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ email customers
- Loads of automations
- All customer profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Customized forms, landing pages, sets off … everything
Allow’s not even talk about the lost efficiency during those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to find out where the heck standard settings were.
And just when I thought things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Slipping In
At first, everything looked fine. Yet after that, out of no place, individuals on my list started obtaining emails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m chatting totally unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 individuals at a time. 3 days in a row.
Complete disorder.
I rebuilt the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I contacted support. They criticized “server problems.” However nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not vanish. Imagine getting up every morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is improved trust fund, you can not afford to resemble an unaware amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I do not anticipate perfection from any type of platform. Pests occur. But when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up quick.
That really did not happen here.
Responses were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into the void while my company burned. Meanwhile, every minute I spent fixing was a min I had not been offering clients or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to serious business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever use a tool and just really feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Vs Kommo.
The UX was confusing. Things were buried in strange areas. Also straightforward jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. Want to transform item settings, web page layouts, and total circulation? Great– you’ll require to hunt via 3 various locations that make no sensible sense. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t even remember where I ‘d clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like utilizing software built by engineers, for engineers– not daily local business owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Got Genuine Expensive, Genuine Fast
Let’s talk cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the price. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Seems fantastic, ideal?
But below’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail 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.
Desire much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Vs Kommo
The last straw? Enjoying my e-mail open prices drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were dialed in, and things just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was just sending at bad times or otherwise individualizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t remaining to play investigative while my listing rotted.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new system– below’s what I desire somebody had actually told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s very easy to get hyped about the current “innovative” device. But even if everybody’s talking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly much better. A system with a clean, instinctive interface will certainly save you time and frustrations in the long run– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Surprise prices are the most awful. Choose tools that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your monthly bill.
4. Listen to Real Customers (Not Simply Marketers)
Inspect honest evaluations, customer discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on real individual experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Want 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 service, I’ve tested a lot. Right here are a few I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, solid support, and it simply functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized organizations with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task administration, team collaboration, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your current arrangement. Do not burn your systems down even if something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your clients) will thanks.