So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Annual Plans.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of streamlining every little thing under one roof seems like a performance desire. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I imply, Keap took care of whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been perfect, however it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology pile is brutal. I want I can tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Completely unimportant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and reconstructed sequences, even connected to support. Their reaction? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to risk one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Simple task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You need to access 3 various arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to like the versatility, however everything concerning the customer experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not envision what it’s like for someone simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that start piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution fees with Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Annual Plans.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of e-mail marketing, you know exactly how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, building trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it resembles watching your hard work obtain purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the reality no person tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap had not been showy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for small cost– check out the genuine expense.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” truly suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Find people with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that in fact works the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job management tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but great for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their largest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can’t pretend or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too tough to construct something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just function.