You recognize that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a fantastic concept, only to understand later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what happened when I determined to switch my entire firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It seemed revolutionary. But in reality? It became among the most agonizing software application decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my company.
So prior to you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via precisely what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for smarter, a lot more efficient ways to grow your service. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Pledge
Here’s things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream come to life. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, repayments– you call it.
If you have actually ever managed a Monster stack of tools simply to run your daily, you recognize how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been making use of Keap for years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I obtained tempted in by the pledge of streamlining everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor instance of glossy item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That Actually Worked)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap wasn’t broken. It did whatever I required. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface felt a little outdated in places, and often points took a few even more clicks than I suched as, but hey, it functioned.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I simply began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (externally), provided a lot more features, and all the great online marketers online seemed to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That interest price me more than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Expense Me to Switch over
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a strong 30 to 40 hours moving data, reconstructing workflows, and generally attempting to duplicate my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Below’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom-made types, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Let’s not also talk about the lost productivity throughout those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to determine where the heck fundamental setups were.
And just when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Sneaking In
In the beginning, everything looked all right. But then, out of nowhere, people on my list began obtaining e-mails they weren’t expected to get. I’m speaking entirely pointless messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals at once. Three days in a row.
Overall disorder.
I reconstruct the automations from square one. Still happened. I got in touch with assistance. They condemned “server problems.” However absolutely nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t go away. Visualize waking up every early morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just frustrating– it threatens. When your entire brand name is built on trust, you can’t manage to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the wrong e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Currently, I do not anticipate perfection from any kind of platform. Pests happen. But when they do? I expect the support group to step up quick.
That didn’t occur below.
Actions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into the void while my company melted. Meanwhile, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a min I had not been offering clients or growing my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Hot Mess
You ever before use a device and simply feel … lost? That was me inside Is GoHighLevel Open Source.
The UX was clunky. Things were hidden in weird places. Also easy tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. Intend to alter product setups, web page formats, and total flow? Trendy– you’ll need to quest through 3 various areas that make absolutely no sensible feeling. Fifty percent the time, I could not even bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 seconds previously.
It seemed like using software application built by designers, for engineers– not daily business owners.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Obtained Real Costly, Actual Quick
Let’s talk cash.
One of GoHighLevel’s big marketing factors is the cost. I indicate, $97/month for all those features? Seems amazing, appropriate?
But right here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per e-mail if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to connect solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their billing independently.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Desire much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you as well.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just poor mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked Is GoHighLevel Open Source
The last straw? Seeing my email open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a solid 35% open price with Keap. My audience was involved, my automations were called in, and points just functioned.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was simply sending at bad times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the cause, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigator while my listing decomposed.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking of switching to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– right here’s what I want someone had actually told me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to obtain hyped concerning the latest “advanced” device. However just because everybody’s speaking about something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your current system is working, hesitate prior to blowing it up.
2. Worth Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly far better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly user interface will save you time and frustrations in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Covert expenses are the most awful. Choose tools that are ahead of time concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your regular monthly bill.
4. Pay Attention to Real Individuals (Not Just Online Marketers)
Inspect impartial evaluations, user online forums, and Reddit strings. Take notice of actual customer experience– not just slick sales pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trustworthy, easy to use system to run your organization, I have actually examined a bunch. Below are a few I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Powerful automations, solid assistance, and it just works. Well worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for services that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one solution for tiny to mid-sized organizations with strong coverage devices.
Monday.com— Superb for project administration, group collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Especially wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel might benefit some. However, for me? It was an irritating, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, asking yourself whether to make the leap– think hard. Ask on your own what’s truly not operating in your present arrangement. Do not burn your systems down just because something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your clients) will certainly thanks.