You know that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic idea, just to understand later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what took place when I decided to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It developed into one of the most agonizing software choices I have actually 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 went down– due to the fact that if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, more efficient methods to grow your organization. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a desire happened. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you have actually ever before managed a Monster stack of tools simply to run your daily, you know how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been making use of Keap for years (and liking it, truthfully), however still– I obtained enticed in by the promise of streamlining whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative case of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did whatever I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface really felt a little outdated in position, and sometimes points took a few even more clicks than I liked, but hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I simply started asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), provided extra features, and all the cool marketing professionals on-line appeared to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness price me greater than simply money– it cost me time, power, and peace of mind.
What It Cost Me to Switch
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and basically attempting to reproduce my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom-made forms, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Allow’s not also talk about the shed efficiency throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to determine where the heck fundamental settings were.
And just when I assumed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
In the beginning, whatever looked okay. But after that, out of no place, people on my listing began obtaining e-mails they weren’t expected to receive. I’m talking totally unnecessary messages– sent out in sets of 171 users at a time. 3 days straight.
Total turmoil.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still occurred. I spoke to assistance. They criticized “server problems.” Yet nothing made sense, and the trouble really did not vanish. Visualize getting up every early morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand is built on count on, you can’t manage to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I don’t anticipate excellence from any type of platform. Insects take place. But when they do? I expect the support group to step up fast.
That really did not take place below.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling into deep space while my service burned. On the other hand, every min I invested troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t serving customers or growing my agency.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever utilize a device and simply really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel Website Builder.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in unusual locations. Even basic jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. Intend to alter item setups, page formats, and total flow? Awesome– you’ll need to search via three different areas that make absolutely no logical sense. Fifty percent the time, I couldn’t even keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 seconds earlier.
It felt like using software application constructed by engineers, for designers– not daily local business owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Real Costly, Real Fast
Let’s speak money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big selling points is the rate. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Seems remarkable, appropriate?
However below’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing separately.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified plainly.
Desire far better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s just bad math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel Website Builder
The last straw? Viewing my email open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and points just worked.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically missing. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Maybe the system was just sending out at hard times or otherwise individualizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t staying to play investigator while my list decayed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of new platform– here’s what I want a person had actually informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped about the current “innovative” device. But just because everybody’s talking about something doesn’t suggest it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, hesitate before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
Extra isn’t always far better. A platform with a clean, intuitive interface will certainly save you time and migraines in the long run– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Concealed expenses are the most awful. Choose devices that are ahead of time regarding pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your regular monthly costs.
4. Listen to Real Customers (Not Simply Marketers)
Inspect unbiased reviews, user discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on actual individual experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, user-friendly system to run your company, I have actually tested a lot. Right here are a couple of I ‘d in fact advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it simply works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for small to mid-sized businesses with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Fantastic for task monitoring, team cooperation, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly terrific for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might help some. But also for me? It was an aggravating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your existing arrangement. Don’t burn your systems down even if something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thanks.