So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) Import ClickFunnels To GoHighLevel.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing everything under one roof covering seems like an efficiency dream. However let me quit you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I wish someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I mean, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Sure, it had not been excellent, but it was trustworthy. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole technology stack is brutal. I want I can inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
Initially, it looked like things were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect group of calls. Completely pointless web content. 3 days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and restored series, even connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to risk one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You have to accessibility 3 different configuration panels– scattered across the interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to enjoy the flexibility, but everything about the user experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not envision what it resembles for a person just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that start piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 charges appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment charges with Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what looked 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 obtaining method much less reliability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Import ClickFunnels To GoHighLevel.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of type of e-mail marketing, you understand how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, building trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your track record, your customer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– take a look at the genuine expense.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually means.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the beautiful endorsements around? They’re from associates trying to score a payment. Find people with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a system that actually functions the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job administration tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however wonderful for customer partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest supporter. But it really did not. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also hard to build something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply work.