You know that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful idea, just to understand later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what occurred when I decided to change my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It appeared revolutionary. Yet in reality? It became among one of the most agonizing software decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my organization.
So prior to you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through specifically what decreased– because if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, much more effective ways to expand your business. Simply … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a desire come to life. A single platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you’ve ever handled a Monster pile of tools just to run your day-to-day, you understand exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for several years (and liking it, honestly), however still– I got tempted in by the pledge of streamlining whatever under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a poor case of glossy things syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did everything I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment organizing, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface really felt a little dated in places, and often points took a couple of even more clicks than I liked, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply began questioning if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), offered much more features, and all the great marketers on-line appeared to be raving about it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That curiosity cost me more than just money– it cost me time, power, and satisfaction.
What It Cost Me to Change
I went done in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and basically attempting to replicate my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Dozens of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Entire funnel infrastructure
- Custom types, landing pages, sets off … everything
Allow’s not even discuss the lost performance throughout those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to identify where the hell standard settings were.
And simply when I assumed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Sneaking In
In the beginning, everything looked fine. However then, out of nowhere, individuals on my list started getting e-mails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m speaking entirely unimportant messages– sent out in batches of 171 customers each time. 3 days straight.
Overall mayhem.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I called support. They blamed “web server issues.” However nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t go away. Visualize waking up every early morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on trust fund, you can’t manage to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, All The Best
Now, I do not anticipate excellence from any type of platform. Pests occur. Yet when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up fast.
That didn’t happen below.
Feedbacks were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was yelling right into the void while my business burned. At the same time, every min I spent troubleshooting was a minute I wasn’t offering customers or growing my company.
For a tool that markets itself to significant business owners, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever make use of a device and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel White Label.
The UX was confusing. Points were buried in weird locations. Even simple tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. Wish to change product setups, web page formats, and general circulation? Amazing– you’ll need to quest via three different locations that make no sensible feeling. Fifty percent the time, I could not also keep in mind where I would certainly clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It seemed like making use of software developed by designers, for designers– not day-to-day company owner.
The “Economical” Plan That Obtained Genuine Expensive, Genuine Quick
Let’s talk cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the rate. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Sounds remarkable, best?
But here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing separately.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t explained clearly.
Desire much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included every little thing up, I was paying more than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel White Label
The last straw? Enjoying my email open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open price with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and points simply worked.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability concern. Perhaps the system was just sending at bad times or otherwise personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play detective while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new system– right here’s what I desire somebody had informed me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped concerning the most recent “revolutionary” tool. However just because everyone’s speaking about something does not mean it’s right for you. If your present system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t always better. A system with a tidy, intuitive user interface will certainly save you time and headaches in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Need Openness
Covert costs are the most awful. Pick tools that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your month-to-month costs.
4. Listen to Genuine Customers (Not Simply Marketing Experts)
Inspect objective reviews, customer forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on real user 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 trustworthy, straightforward system to run your organization, I have actually examined a lot. Here are a couple of I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, solid support, and it simply functions. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for small to mid-sized organizations with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for project monitoring, team partnership, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Particularly wonderful for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. But also for me? It was a frustrating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the edge, wondering whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask yourself what’s actually not working in your current setup. Don’t burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick with what works. Your sanity (and your clients) will thanks.