So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) Does GoHighLevel Integrate with Shopify.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying every little thing under one roofing system sounds like a performance desire. But let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I want someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your preferred set of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned terrific.
I suggest, Keap took care of every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t best, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire technology stack is brutal. I want I can tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used 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 worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
At first, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Completely pointless material. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and reconstructed series, even connected to support. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to risk an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You need to gain access to three different setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to love the adaptability, however every little thing regarding the user experience made me seem like I needed a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not visualize what it resembles for somebody simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that begin accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges through Mailgun, their email company.
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 obtaining means much less reliability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Does GoHighLevel Integrate with Shopify.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you recognize exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, constructing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was solid. That deserves greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every single time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– consider the actual expense.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” actually means.
4. Watch out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful testimonials out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a commission. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a platform that actually works the method it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project monitoring tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however excellent for client partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So before you study a major migration– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked too hard to construct something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that just work.