You understand that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a fantastic idea, just to recognize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what occurred when I decided to switch my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. But in truth? It turned into one of the most painful software program choices I have actually made in over a years of running my business.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through specifically what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, more efficient ways to grow your organization. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream become a reality. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Monster pile of tools simply to run your everyday, you know exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been utilizing Keap for years (and liking it, truthfully), however still– I got tempted in by the pledge of streamlining whatever under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative case of glossy object disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did everything I required. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface felt a little outdated in places, and in some cases things took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, however hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Honestly, I just began wondering if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), used more features, and all the cool marketing professionals online appeared to be raving concerning it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That inquisitiveness expense me greater than simply money– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, reconstructing workflows, and essentially attempting to duplicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Dozens of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Customized kinds, landing pages, sets off … every little thing
Allow’s not even speak about the lost performance during those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, seeing tutorials, and trying to identify where the heck standard setups were.
And simply when I assumed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
At first, whatever looked alright. But then, out of nowhere, individuals on my list began getting e-mails they weren’t meant to get. I’m speaking totally unnecessary messages– sent in batches of 171 individuals each time. Three days in a row.
Overall mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still taken place. I spoke to assistance. They blamed “web server problems.” Yet absolutely nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t disappear. Envision getting up every early morning questioning who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not simply aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is improved trust fund, you can not manage to look like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I don’t anticipate perfection from any kind of system. Bugs take place. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance group to step up quickly.
That really did not occur right here.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into deep space while my service burned. Meanwhile, every min I invested fixing was a min I wasn’t offering customers or growing my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before utilize a device and just feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Vs PipelinePRO.
The UX was confusing. Points were buried in weird areas. Also straightforward tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. Intend to transform item setups, page formats, and general circulation? Trendy– you’ll need to hunt with three various areas that make absolutely no sensible feeling. Fifty percent the moment, I could not even keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds previously.
It felt like utilizing software developed by engineers, for engineers– not everyday business owners.
The “Inexpensive” Plan That Got Real Costly, Genuine Quick
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s big selling factors is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Seems remarkable, right?
However here’s what they don’t tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their payment independently.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Want far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Vs PipelinePRO
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and points simply functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at bad times or otherwise personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been remaining to play detective while my listing decomposed.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– below’s what I wish someone had informed me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s easy to get hyped about the latest “innovative” device. Yet even if every person’s speaking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your current system is functioning, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly far better. A system with a tidy, instinctive user interface will certainly conserve you time and migraines in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Transparency
Hidden expenses are the worst. Choose tools that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your month-to-month bill.
4. Listen to Genuine Users (Not Simply Marketers)
Check honest reviews, individual forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on actual individual experience– not just slick sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, straightforward system to run your organization, I have actually tested a bunch. Below are a few I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it just works. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one remedy for little to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Amazing for project monitoring, group partnership, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically fantastic for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might help some. However, for me? It was a frustrating, pricey experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s really not operating in your existing setup. Don’t burn your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thanks.