So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) What Can You Do with GoHighLevel.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of improving everything under one roofing system seems like a performance desire. But let me stop you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I wish somebody had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, 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, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored set of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I imply, Keap managed every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it had not been perfect, however it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire technology pile is brutal. I want I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
In the beginning, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Completely unimportant web content. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, removed and reconstructed series, also connected to support. Their reaction? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of another error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You have to access three various arrangement panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to enjoy the flexibility, yet everything concerning the individual experience made me feel like I needed a programmer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it’s like for a person simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 fees popping up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery costs with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me What Can You Do with GoHighLevel.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you know exactly how important deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, constructing depend on, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it resembles seeing your effort get purged away.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the truth no person tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– consider the genuine cost.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” really indicates.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant reviews around? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Find people with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a platform that really functions the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task administration devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet excellent for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can not pretend or else.
So prior to you study a major migration– or worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too difficult to build something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply work.