You understand that feeling when you’re 99% sure something’s a terrific idea, just to understand later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s specifically what took place when I made a decision to change my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It seemed revolutionary. Yet actually? It turned into among the most unpleasant software decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my service.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you with exactly what went down– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly trying to find smarter, much more reliable methods to grow your business. Just … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Below’s things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come true. A single platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, visit reservations, automation, settlements– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein stack of tools just to run your everyday, you know just how alluring the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I would certainly been using Keap for years (and enjoying it, honestly), but still– I got enticed in by the promise of simplifying everything under one roofing system.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a negative situation of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Really Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did every little thing I required. It managed my e-mail automations, sales funnels, consultation scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little outdated in position, and sometimes points took a few even more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it worked.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply began wondering if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), offered extra features, and all the amazing marketing professionals online seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That inquisitiveness expense me more than just cash– it cost me time, energy, and satisfaction.
What It Cost Me to Switch over
I went done in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, rebuilding workflows, and basically trying to replicate my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I had to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Loads of automations
- All client profiles and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Whole funnel facilities
- Custom kinds, landing pages, triggers … every little thing
Let’s not also discuss the lost efficiency during those couple of weeks. I depended on my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, viewing tutorials, and attempting to determine where the hell basic setups were.
And simply when I believed points were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Began Slipping In
Initially, everything looked all right. But after that, out of nowhere, people on my listing started obtaining emails they weren’t supposed to obtain. I’m talking entirely unimportant messages– sent out in sets of 171 users at once. 3 days straight.
Total chaos.
I reconstruct the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I contacted support. They criticized “web server concerns.” But absolutely nothing made good sense, and the trouble didn’t vanish. Think of waking up every early morning wondering who your system could’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just bothersome– it’s dangerous. When your entire brand is built on count on, you can not pay for to appear like a clueless amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the incorrect individuals.
Assistance? Yeah, Good Luck
Now, I do not anticipate perfection from any kind of platform. Pests take place. However when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quickly.
That really did not happen right here.
Responses were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was yelling right into the void while my service shed. Meanwhile, every minute I invested troubleshooting was a min I had not been serving clients or growing my agency.
For a device that markets itself to major business owners, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever utilize a tool and just really feel … lost? That was me inside SaaSPRENEUR Powered by HighLevel.
The UX was confusing. Things were buried in unusual locations. Even basic jobs like modifying a funnel or tweaking an e-mail flow developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. Wish to change product settings, page layouts, and total circulation? Awesome– you’ll need to hunt through three different locations that make zero logical sense. Half the moment, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I ‘d clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like utilizing software program developed by designers, for engineers– not day-to-day entrepreneur.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Genuine Expensive, Actual Fast
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge selling points is the cost. I imply, $97/month for all those features? Appears remarkable, best?
However here’s what they don’t inform you:.
You pay extra per email if you utilize their SMTP.
You need to attach solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their invoicing independently.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Desire much 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 actually been with Keap. And getting worse outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply poor math.
My Email Metrics Tanked SaaSPRENEUR Powered by HighLevel
The last straw? Viewing my e-mail open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been getting a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and points just functioned.
After changing to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were virtually missing. Something was plainly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Possibly the system was simply sending out at bad times or otherwise customizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I had not been sticking around to play investigative while my list rotted.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re thinking about changing to GoHighLevel– or any type of new platform– right here’s what I want someone had informed me before I made the jump:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Plaything
It’s very easy to obtain hyped about the current “cutting edge” device. However just because every person’s talking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is working, reconsider prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t always far better. A platform with a tidy, intuitive interface will save you time and frustrations over time– even if it doesn’t have every feature imaginable.
3. Demand Openness
Hidden prices are the worst. Select tools that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and restrictions. You should not require a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your month-to-month costs.
4. Listen to Real Users (Not Simply Marketing Professionals)
Examine honest evaluations, customer forums, and Reddit strings. Pay attention to actual user experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Much better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a reliable, user-friendly platform to run your organization, I’ve examined a number. Below are a couple of I ‘d really advise:.
Keap— My current go-to. Powerful automations, strong assistance, and it simply functions. Worth every penny.
HubSpot— Great for businesses that need scalability and progressed CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for little to mid-sized companies with strong reporting tools.
Monday.com— Great for job monitoring, group cooperation, and sales pipe monitoring.
Bonsai— Particularly excellent for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Verdict
GoHighLevel may benefit some. However, for me? It was an irritating, costly experiment that I could not wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the edge, questioning whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask yourself what’s actually not operating in your existing arrangement. Do not melt your systems down even if something more recent and shinier appeared.
Stick with what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thank you.