You know that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s an excellent concept, only to recognize later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I chose to switch my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It turned into one of the most uncomfortable software program 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 specifically what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, more effective methods to grow your service. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Right here’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream come to life. A single system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment bookings, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you’ve ever before juggled a Frankenstein stack of tools just to run your daily, you understand exactly how tempting 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 guarantee of simplifying everything under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor instance of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did every little thing 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 often points took a few more clicks than I liked, but hey, it worked.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), provided extra features, and all the amazing marketing professionals on the internet 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, power, and peace of mind.
What It Expense Me to Switch over
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, rebuilding workflows, and generally trying to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Custom types, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Let’s not also talk about the shed efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to find out where the heck basic settings were.
And simply when I assumed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
At first, everything looked okay. But then, out of no place, people on my listing began obtaining e-mails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m talking entirely irrelevant messages– sent in batches of 171 customers at a time. Three days in a row.
Complete mayhem.
I rebuilt the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I contacted assistance. They criticized “web server issues.” But nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not vanish. Visualize getting up every morning wondering who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just irritating– it threatens. When your entire brand is built on trust, you can’t pay for to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the incorrect e-mails to the wrong people.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I do not expect perfection from any platform. Insects take place. However when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up quickly.
That didn’t occur below.
Feedbacks were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting into deep space while my business shed. On the other hand, every min I invested repairing was a min I had not been serving clients or growing my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever use a device and just feel … lost? That was me inside GoHighLevel Vs LinkTree.
The UX was confusing. Points were hidden in unusual places. Also simple tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. Wish to transform item setups, page formats, and total flow? Awesome– you’ll need to quest through 3 various locations that make no logical sense. Half the time, I couldn’t also remember where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It seemed like making use of software built by designers, for engineers– not daily local business owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Real Pricey, Genuine Quick
Let’s chat money.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge marketing points is the price. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Seems outstanding, ideal?
However right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay additional per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t discussed plainly.
Desire far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Vs LinkTree
The last straw? Viewing my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and things just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at hard times or otherwise individualizing messages properly. Whatever the cause, I had not been sticking around to play detective while my listing decomposed.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any new system– below’s what I want somebody had actually told me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped regarding the current “advanced” device. But even if every person’s speaking about something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a tidy, user-friendly interface will conserve you time and frustrations in the future– even if it does not have every feature imaginable.
3. Need Openness
Surprise prices are the worst. Pick tools that are upfront about pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to recognize your month-to-month bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Customers (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Inspect objective reviews, individual discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Pay attention to real user experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, straightforward platform to run your company, I have actually tested a bunch. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it simply functions. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one solution for tiny to mid-sized services with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Wonderful for project monitoring, team cooperation, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Especially terrific for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may work for some. But for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s truly not working in your present setup. Do not shed your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will thanks.