So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel AI Employee.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of simplifying whatever under one roof sounds like an efficiency desire. Yet let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I want a person had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I indicate, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been best, but it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole technology stack is ruthless. I desire I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental power it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it resembled points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong team of get in touches with. Completely unnecessary content. Three days in a row. And not the same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and restored series, even reached out to sustain. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You have to accessibility 3 various setup panels– spread across the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to love the flexibility, yet everything regarding the user experience made me seem like I needed a programmer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it’s like for somebody simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution charges with Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like 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 dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel AI Employee.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of email marketing, you recognize how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, developing trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– take a look at the genuine cost.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” truly means.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a payment. Find people with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a system that really functions the means it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job monitoring tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not pretend or else.
So before you study a full-blown movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked too difficult to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that simply function.