You know that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic concept, just to recognize later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what took place when I made a decision to switch my whole company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. However in reality? It became one of one of the most agonizing software application decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my organization.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with exactly what dropped– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, a lot more effective means to grow your organization. Simply … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Assurance
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream come true. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you’ve ever handled a Frankenstein stack of devices just to run your day-to-day, you understand exactly how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and enjoying it, honestly), yet still– I got drawn in by the assurance of streamlining every little thing under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor situation of glossy item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Really Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did whatever I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little dated in places, and occasionally points took a few even more clicks than I suched as, yet hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I simply began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (on the surface), used a lot more features, and all the cool online marketers on the internet appeared to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness price 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 strong 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and basically trying to reproduce my entire Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe billing integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Personalized kinds, landing pages, causes … every little thing
Let’s not even discuss the lost efficiency throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to find out where the heck fundamental settings were.
And simply when I believed things were functioning … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Creeping In
In the beginning, everything looked alright. However then, out of nowhere, people on my checklist started getting emails they weren’t supposed to get. I’m chatting totally unnecessary messages– sent in batches of 171 individuals at once. Three days in a row.
Complete turmoil.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I called assistance. They criticized “web server problems.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the problem really did not go away. Imagine awakening every early morning questioning who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not simply irritating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on trust, you can not afford to appear like an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Support? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I don’t expect excellence from any platform. Bugs occur. Yet when they do? I expect the assistance team to step up quickly.
That didn’t happen here.
Reactions were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into the void while my organization burned. At the same time, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t offering customers or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to severe business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a tool and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel ZappyChat.
The UX was cumbersome. Points were hidden in unusual places. Even easy tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. Want to transform product setups, page designs, and overall circulation? Amazing– you’ll need to quest with 3 various areas that make absolutely no logical feeling. Half the moment, I couldn’t even bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like making use of software application constructed by engineers, for designers– not day-to-day local business owner.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Actual Pricey, Real Quick
Let’s talk cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling factors is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Appears fantastic, ideal?
Yet right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I added whatever up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel ZappyChat
The last straw? Enjoying my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I ‘d been getting a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and points just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability concern. Maybe the system was just sending at bad times or not personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigative while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Discovered the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– below’s what I wish someone had actually informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to get hyped about the latest “revolutionary” device. But even if every person’s talking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t constantly much better. A platform with a tidy, intuitive interface will certainly save you time and migraines in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Concealed prices are the worst. Pick devices that are ahead of time concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month expense.
4. Listen to Actual Customers (Not Simply Marketing Experts)
Examine impartial testimonials, user discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take note of real individual experience– not simply glossy sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a dependable, user-friendly system to run your business, I have actually evaluated a bunch. Here are a couple of I ‘d in fact suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, solid assistance, and it simply functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one service for small to mid-sized services with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Amazing for task management, team cooperation, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically great for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may help some. But for me? It was a discouraging, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask on your own what’s actually not operating in your present configuration. Do not shed your systems down just because something newer and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thanks.