You know that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a wonderful idea, only to understand later … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I determined to switch my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But in reality? It became one of one of the most excruciating software program choices I have actually made in over a decade of running my business.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you through exactly what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always trying to find smarter, much more efficient means to expand your company. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Right here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a desire become a reality. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, consultation bookings, automation, repayments– you name it.
If you have actually ever handled a Frankenstein stack of devices simply to run your daily, you recognize just how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for many years (and enjoying it, truthfully), however still– I got lured in by the promise of streamlining every little thing under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative situation of glossy item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did every little thing I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the interface felt a little outdated in places, and in some cases things took a few even more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I just began questioning if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), used a lot more features, and all the trendy marketers online appeared to be raving about it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That curiosity expense me greater than just money– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Switch over
I went done in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving data, rebuilding workflows, and generally attempting to reproduce my whole Keap configuration inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ email clients
- Dozens of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Personalized types, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Allow’s not also discuss the shed performance throughout those few weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to identify where the hell standard settings were.
And simply when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Creeping In
Initially, everything looked fine. But then, out of no place, people on my listing began getting emails they weren’t meant to obtain. I’m speaking completely unnecessary messages– sent in batches of 171 individuals at a time. 3 days in a row.
Total chaos.
I restore the automations from the ground up. Still happened. I called support. They blamed “server problems.” Yet absolutely nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not disappear. Visualize getting up every morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is improved trust, you can’t manage to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the wrong emails to the wrong individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I don’t anticipate excellence from any type of platform. Pests occur. However when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up fast.
That didn’t occur here.
Responses were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting into the void while my service melted. At the same time, every min I invested troubleshooting was a min I wasn’t offering clients or growing my agency.
For a device that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before utilize a device and simply feel … shed? That was me inside How Many Customers Does GoHighLevel Have.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in odd locations. Also straightforward tasks like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. Intend to change product setups, page layouts, and total circulation? Cool– you’ll require to search with three various areas that make absolutely no rational sense. Half the time, I couldn’t even remember where I ‘d clicked something ten seconds previously.
It seemed like using software program built by engineers, for engineers– not daily business owners.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Got Real Pricey, Real Rapid
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Appears outstanding, appropriate?
However right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You have to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing independently.
You’ll get arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Desire better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked How Many Customers Does GoHighLevel Have
The last straw? Watching my email open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were dialed in, and points just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped below 15%. Clicks were almost missing. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Maybe the system was just sending out at hard times or otherwise personalizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I had not been remaining to play investigator while my checklist rotted.
Lessons I Discovered by hand
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of new system– here’s what I desire somebody had told me prior to I made the jump:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to get hyped about the current “cutting edge” tool. Yet even if every person’s speaking about something doesn’t imply it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly much better. A system with a tidy, intuitive user interface will certainly conserve you time and headaches over time– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Surprise costs are the worst. Select devices that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to comprehend your monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Actual Customers (Not Just Marketing Professionals)
Inspect unbiased testimonials, customer discussion forums, and Reddit strings. Focus on real customer experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, straightforward system to run your service, I have actually evaluated a lot. Below are a couple of I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong assistance, and it just works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one remedy for small to mid-sized businesses with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Superb for job management, team cooperation, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel may help some. But also for me? It was a frustrating, pricey 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 yourself what’s actually not working in your present configuration. Do not melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier turned up.
Stick with what jobs. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.