You know that sensation when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific idea, only to understand later on … it was a complete dumpster fire? That’s precisely what happened when I determined to change my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked shiny. It appeared revolutionary. But in reality? It turned into among one of the most painful software decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my organization.
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 trying to find smarter, a lot more efficient means to expand your business. Simply … not like this.
The Sexy All-in-One Assurance
Here’s the thing. When GoHighLevel hit the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A solitary platform to manage your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, payments– you name it.
If you have actually ever managed a Monster pile of tools simply to run your day-to-day, you understand exactly how tempting the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for several years (and liking it, honestly), yet still– I obtained enticed in by the promise of simplifying every little thing under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll admit it: I had a bad instance of glossy item syndrome.
Why I Left Keap (A Tool That In Fact Worked)
Let me be real with you: Keap wasn’t damaged. It did whatever I needed. It handled my email automations, sales funnels, visit organizing, invoicing– you call it. Certain, the interface really felt a little dated in places, and in some cases points took a few more clicks than I liked, but hey, it functioned.
So why modification?
Truthfully, I simply began asking yourself if I was losing out. GoHighLevel was cheaper (externally), provided much more features, and all the awesome marketers on-line seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a heck of a medicine.
That inquisitiveness cost me more than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Expense Me to Switch
I went all in. Registered for the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and basically trying to replicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ email subscribers
- Lots of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel infrastructure
- Custom-made kinds, landing pages, activates … every little thing
Allow’s not even discuss the lost performance during those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and trying to identify where the heck fundamental setups were.
And just when I believed points were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Sneaking In
In the beginning, everything looked alright. However then, out of nowhere, individuals on my listing started getting emails they weren’t expected to receive. I’m chatting completely irrelevant messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at a time. 3 days straight.
Complete disorder.
I reconstruct the automations from the ground up. Still occurred. I got in touch with assistance. They condemned “web server problems.” Yet nothing made sense, and the issue really did not vanish. Picture awakening every early morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just frustrating– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand name is built on trust, you can not manage to appear like a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect individuals.
Support? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I do not anticipate excellence from any kind of platform. Bugs take place. Yet when they do? I anticipate the assistance team to step up fast.
That really did not occur below.
Feedbacks were unclear. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was screaming into the void while my organization melted. On the other hand, every minute I invested troubleshooting was a minute I wasn’t serving clients or expanding my company.
For a tool that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The User interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever use a tool and simply feel … shed? That was me inside Make Money with GoHighLevel.
The UX was confusing. Things were buried in odd places. Even straightforward jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an email circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. Intend to change item settings, web page designs, and total flow? Amazing– you’ll need to quest through 3 different locations that make no logical feeling. Fifty percent the time, I could not even bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like utilizing software built by engineers, for designers– not daily local business owner.
The “Cost effective” Plan That Obtained Genuine Pricey, Actual Quick
Let’s speak cash.
Among GoHighLevel’s large selling points is the cost. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Seems incredible, ideal?
Yet right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay extra per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to connect services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their invoicing separately.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t explained plainly.
Want much better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I added everything up, I was paying more than I had been with Keap. And becoming worse outcomes.
That’s not a good deal– it’s simply poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked Make Money with GoHighLevel
The final straw? Enjoying my email open prices drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were called in, and things just worked.
After switching over to GoHighLevel? Opens went down listed below 15%. Clicks were almost nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability issue. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at bad times or not customizing messages appropriately. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t sticking around to play investigator while my listing rotted.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching over to GoHighLevel– or any brand-new system– below’s what I desire somebody had actually told me prior to I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s simple to obtain hyped about the latest “advanced” device. But just because every person’s speaking about something doesn’t mean it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, reconsider before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
Much more isn’t always much better. A platform with a clean, user-friendly user interface will save you time and frustrations in the future– even if it doesn’t have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert prices are the most awful. Select devices that are in advance about pricing, integrations, and limitations. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to recognize your regular monthly bill.
4. Listen to Actual Customers (Not Just Marketing Experts)
Examine objective reviews, customer forums, and Reddit strings. Take note of real customer experience– not simply slick sales pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, user-friendly platform to run your organization, I have actually evaluated a bunch. Here are a couple of I ‘d actually recommend:.
Keap— My existing go-to. Powerful automations, strong support, and it just functions. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for small to mid-sized services with strong reporting devices.
Monday.com— Great for project administration, group cooperation, and sales pipeline tracking.
Bonsai— Specifically excellent for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel might benefit some. But for me? It was a frustrating, pricey experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the leap– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s actually not working in your existing arrangement. Don’t melt your systems down just because something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick with what works. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thank you.