So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) 3CX GoHighLevel.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roof covering sounds like a performance dream. Yet let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish a person had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I imply, Keap handled whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it had not been perfect, yet it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech stack is ruthless. I wish I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological power it sucked out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I awakened to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Totally pointless content. 3 days in a row. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and reconstructed series, also reached out to support. Their action? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you an image. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You need to gain access to 3 different arrangement panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to love the versatility, but every little thing concerning the customer experience made me seem like I required a designer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it’s like for somebody simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin piling up. I noticed random $10 costs popping up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery fees with Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me 3CX GoHighLevel.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you understand how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– take a look at the actual cost.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” truly means.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the radiant testimonies around? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Discover people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a platform that in fact functions the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job management tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however terrific for customer partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t act otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown migration– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked also difficult to develop something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.