So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) What Type of Company Is GoHighLevel.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of simplifying every little thing under one roofing sounds like a productivity dream. Yet let me quit you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I desire somebody had grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned excellent.
I suggest, Keap managed every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology stack is brutal. I desire I can tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Crumbling
At first, it looked like points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Totally irrelevant material. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and rebuilt series, even reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Easy 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 places no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You have to accessibility three different arrangement panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, yet everything concerning the individual experience made me feel like I needed a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can not envision what it’s like for a person just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that start piling up. I discovered random $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment costs through Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me What Type of Company Is GoHighLevel.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, developing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it’s like viewing your hard work obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality no one informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was strong. That’s worth more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– every time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– check out the real cost.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” really suggests.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements out there? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a commission. Discover people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a system that actually functions the method it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job monitoring devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however great for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not act otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked as well tough to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to tools that simply work.