So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) Carpet Cleaner GoHighLevel Snapshot.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing whatever under one roof covering sounds like a productivity dream. Yet let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I want someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked great.
I mean, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire technology stack is brutal. I desire I could tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental energy it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Completely irrelevant content. Three days in a row. And not the same people either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and restored series, also reached out to support. Their feedback? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered too much to run the risk of one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You have to accessibility 3 various configuration panels– scattered across the interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to like the flexibility, however whatever regarding the individual experience made me feel like I needed a programmer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can’t imagine what it’s like for a person just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that start accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 costs popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution fees with Mailgun, their email company.
So what resembled a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Carpet Cleaner GoHighLevel Snapshot.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of kind of e-mail marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, constructing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work get flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your client experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the fact no one tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was strong. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– consider the real price.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” really suggests.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A lot of the radiant endorsements out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a system that in fact functions the means it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however great for customer partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not claim or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown migration– or worse, convince your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the hard concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned too difficult to construct something excellent. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply work.