So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the glowing evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) What Is The Purpose of GoHighLevel.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving every little thing under one roof sounds like a performance desire. However let me quit you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I wish someone had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked wonderful.
I mean, Keap took care of whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it had not been ideal, but it was dependable. 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 considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire tech pile is brutal. I desire I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a dozen automations from square one– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for too long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it looked like things were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Totally irrelevant content. 3 days straight. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and reconstructed sequences, also connected to sustain. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered excessive to risk another screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You have to accessibility 3 different setup panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to like the adaptability, yet every little thing about the individual experience made me feel like I needed a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it’s like for someone just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that begin accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 fees appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery costs through Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting way less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me What Is The Purpose of GoHighLevel.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, developing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work get purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– check out the real price.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” really suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the radiant reviews around? They’re from associates trying to rack up a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a platform that in fact functions the method it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, but great for customer partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest cheerleader. However it didn’t. And I can’t pretend or else.
So prior to you study a full-blown movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked also difficult to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that just function.