You know that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific idea, just to understand later … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s precisely what occurred when I made a decision to change my whole firm over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. Yet in truth? It developed into one of the most excruciating software program decisions I’ve made in over a years of running my organization.
So before you get on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through precisely what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, much more effective ways to expand your business. Just … not such as this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s the important things. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it sounded like a dream become a reality. A solitary system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit bookings, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you have actually ever managed a Frankenstein stack of devices simply to run your daily, you recognize just how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for years (and loving it, truthfully), yet still– I obtained tempted in by the assurance of simplifying every little thing under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a negative situation of glossy object syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be genuine with you: Keap had not been broken. It did whatever I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Certain, the interface felt a little dated in position, and in some cases points took a few even more clicks than I liked, yet hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I just began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less expensive (on the surface), supplied much more features, and all the great marketers on the internet appeared to be going crazy about it. FOMO is a heck of a drug.
That interest price me greater than just cash– it cost me time, power, and satisfaction.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went all in. Signed up for the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating data, reconstructing workflows, and essentially trying to reproduce my whole Keap arrangement inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I had to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Dozens of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom kinds, landing pages, triggers … everything
Let’s not even speak about the shed efficiency during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to determine where the hell fundamental settings were.
And just when I thought things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Started Slipping In
Initially, everything looked okay. But after that, out of no place, people on my listing started getting emails they weren’t intended to obtain. I’m chatting completely unnecessary messages– sent in batches of 171 individuals at once. Three days in a row.
Total chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I got in touch with assistance. They blamed “web server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble really did not vanish. Visualize waking up every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on trust, you can’t pay for to appear like an unaware amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the wrong individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I don’t anticipate perfection from any kind of platform. Pests occur. However when they do? I expect the support group to step up quick.
That really did not take place below.
Reactions were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was shouting right into the void while my organization shed. Meanwhile, every min I invested fixing was a minute I had not been offering clients or growing my agency.
For a tool that markets itself to serious entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel certain didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever utilize a tool and simply feel … shed? That was me inside Launch HighLevel Together.
The UX was cumbersome. Things were buried in unusual places. Even basic tasks like editing a funnel or tweaking an email circulation became a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. Want to alter item setups, page layouts, and general circulation? Amazing– you’ll need to quest through 3 different locations that make zero rational sense. Half the moment, I couldn’t also keep in mind where I ‘d clicked something 10 secs earlier.
It seemed like making use of software application constructed by engineers, for designers– not everyday local business owner.
The “Budget friendly” Plan That Obtained Real Costly, Real Fast
Let’s speak cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the rate. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Sounds outstanding, appropriate?
However here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing separately.
You’ll obtain random microcharges that aren’t described clearly.
Want far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply negative mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked Launch HighLevel Together
The final straw? Watching my e-mail open rates go down like a rock.
I ‘d been obtaining a solid 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and points just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Possibly the system was just sending at bad times or not customizing messages correctly. Whatever the cause, I had not been lingering to play detective while my checklist decayed.
Lessons I Found Out the Hard Way
If you’re considering changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of brand-new platform– here’s what I want a person had actually informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped about the latest “revolutionary” device. However just because everybody’s talking about something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your present system is working, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simpleness Over Features
A lot more isn’t always better. A platform with a clean, instinctive interface will save you time and frustrations over time– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Openness
Covert costs are the worst. Select tools that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and limits. You should not need a calculator and a thesaurus to understand your month-to-month expense.
4. Listen to Real Users (Not Just Marketers)
Check impartial evaluations, individual discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Take notice of actual user experience– not simply slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Right Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, straightforward platform to run your company, I have actually tested a lot. Below are a few I ‘d actually suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, strong support, and it simply works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for services that require scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one option for little to mid-sized services with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Great for task management, group collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically fantastic for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Final Thought
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But also for me? It was a frustrating, pricey experiment that I could not wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, wondering whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s really not working in your existing configuration. Don’t melt your systems down just because something more recent and shinier showed up.
Stick to what works. Your sanity (and your customers) will certainly thank you.