So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) Is GoHighLevel The Best CRM For Agencies.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying every little thing under one roof seems like an efficiency desire. However let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I want a person had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your favorite set of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I imply, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, but it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech pile is ruthless. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological power it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Falling Apart
Initially, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Entirely pointless content. 3 days straight. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation setups, removed and rebuilt sequences, even connected to sustain. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to risk one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You need to accessibility 3 various arrangement panels– spread across the interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to love the adaptability, however every little thing regarding the user experience made me feel like I needed a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not imagine what it’s like for somebody simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment fees via Mailgun, their email company.
So what resembled 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 much less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Is GoHighLevel The Best CRM For Agencies.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of email marketing, you recognize how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, building count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain purged away.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your track record, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the truth no person informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was strong. That’s worth greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– take a look at the real price.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” actually suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful testimonies available? They’re from affiliates trying to score a payment. Locate people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a platform that really works the way it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job monitoring tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet excellent for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-scale movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked too tough to build something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply work.