You recognize that feeling when you’re 99% certain something’s a terrific concept, only to realize later on … it was a total dumpster fire? That’s exactly what took place when I determined to switch my entire company over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But in truth? It developed into among one of the most uncomfortable software application decisions I’ve made in over a decade of running my service.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me walk you through specifically what decreased– since if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly looking for smarter, a lot more effective methods to grow your business. Simply … not similar to this.
The Sexy All-in-One Promise
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it sounded like a dream come to life. A solitary platform to handle your CRM, sales funnels, email campaigns, appointment reservations, automation, payments– you call it.
If you have actually ever juggled a Frankenstein stack of tools simply to run your everyday, you know how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for several years (and liking it, truthfully), but still– I obtained drawn in by the assurance of simplifying everything under one roofing.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor case of shiny item disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be real with you: Keap had not been damaged. It did everything I needed. It handled my e-mail automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you call it. Sure, the user interface really felt a little outdated in position, and in some cases points took a few more clicks than I liked, but hey, it worked.
So why adjustment?
Honestly, I just began asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was more affordable (on the surface), used much more features, and all the awesome marketing professionals on the internet seemed to be going crazy regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a medication.
That interest cost me more than just money– it cost me time, power, and comfort.
What It Price Me to Switch
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Invest a strong 30 to 40 hours migrating information, restoring workflows, and primarily attempting to reproduce my entire Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Here’s what I needed to move:
- 20,000+ e-mail clients
- Loads of automations
- All customer accounts and notes
- Stripe payment integration
- Entire funnel facilities
- Custom types, landing pages, sets off … everything
Let’s not also talk about the shed performance throughout those few weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, enjoying tutorials, and trying to identify where the hell basic settings were.
And simply when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Vermin Began Slipping In
Initially, everything looked alright. Yet after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my list started getting emails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m chatting completely unimportant messages– sent in sets of 171 individuals at once. Three days straight.
Total mayhem.
I restore the automations from scratch. Still taken place. I spoke to support. They blamed “server concerns.” However nothing made good sense, and the issue really did not vanish. Think of waking up every morning wondering who your system might’ve spammed overnight.
That’s not just aggravating– it threatens. When your whole brand name is built on trust fund, you can not pay for to resemble a clueless amateur blasting the incorrect e-mails to the incorrect people.
Assistance? Yeah, Best Of Luck
Currently, I do not expect excellence from any system. Bugs happen. Yet when they do? I anticipate the assistance group to step up fast.
That didn’t take place below.
Responses were vague. Tickets went unanswered. I felt like I was screaming right into the void while my company shed. On the other hand, every minute I spent troubleshooting was a minute I had not been serving clients or expanding my agency.
For a device that markets itself to major entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure really did not treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever use a tool and simply really feel … lost? That was me inside Who Uses GoHighLevel.
The UX was confusing. Things were hidden in unusual locations. Even basic jobs like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an email flow turned into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. Intend to alter item settings, page designs, and overall flow? Cool– you’ll need to search with three various areas that make zero sensible sense. Fifty percent the moment, I couldn’t also bear in mind where I would certainly clicked something ten secs previously.
It seemed like using software constructed by engineers, for designers– not day-to-day entrepreneur.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Obtained Actual Costly, Actual Rapid
Let’s talk money.
Among GoHighLevel’s huge marketing factors is the price. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Sounds amazing, right?
But right here’s what they do not inform you:.
You pay added per email if you use their SMTP.
You have to link solutions like Mailgun or Twilio and manage their payment independently.
You’ll get random microcharges that aren’t described plainly.
Want far better e-mail deliverability? That’s gon na cost you too.
By the time I included whatever up, I was paying greater than I had been with Keap. And worsening outcomes.
That’s not a bargain– it’s simply negative math.
My Email Metrics Tanked Who Uses GoHighLevel
The final straw? Seeing my email open rates go down like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a solid 35% open price with Keap. My audience was engaged, my automations were called in, and points just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens went down below 15%. Clicks were nearly nonexistent. Something was clearly off.
Maybe it was a deliverability problem. Perhaps the system was just sending at bad times or not personalizing messages correctly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t staying to play investigator while my list decayed.
Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
If you’re thinking about switching to GoHighLevel– or any kind of brand-new system– here’s what I desire somebody had told me before I made the leap:.
1. Do Not Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s easy to get hyped regarding the current “revolutionary” tool. Yet even if every person’s talking about something does not indicate it’s right for you. If your existing system is functioning, think twice prior to blowing it up.
2. Value Simplicity Over Features
A lot more isn’t constantly better. A system with a tidy, intuitive interface will conserve you time and frustrations in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Covert prices are the worst. Choose devices that are upfront concerning pricing, integrations, and limitations. You shouldn’t require a calculator and a synonym replacement tool to understand your monthly expense.
4. Listen to Actual Individuals (Not Simply Marketing Experts)
Inspect unbiased evaluations, user online forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on real user experience– not simply glossy sales web pages.
Still Want an All-in-One CRM? Below Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, user-friendly platform to run your organization, I’ve examined a bunch. Right here are a few I ‘d really suggest:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it just works. Well worth every cent.
HubSpot— Great for organizations that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A strong all-in-one option for little to mid-sized businesses with strong coverage tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job monitoring, team partnership, and sales pipeline monitoring.
Bonsai— Specifically fantastic for consultants and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. But for me? It was a frustrating, costly experiment that I couldn’t wait to finish.
So if you’re standing at the side, questioning whether to make the jump– concentrate. Ask on your own what’s truly not working in your present configuration. Don’t shed your systems down even if something more recent and shinier turned up.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will thank you.