So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Calendar Integration.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving every little thing under one roofing seems like a performance dream. Yet let me stop you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I wish someone had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked fantastic.
I suggest, Keap managed whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it wasn’t best, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole tech pile is harsh. I desire I could inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
At first, it appeared like things were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Completely unimportant material. Three days in a row. And not the same people either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, even connected to sustain. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You have to accessibility three various setup panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to like the versatility, however every little thing regarding the individual experience made me feel like I required a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not envision what it resembles for someone simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that start piling up. I observed arbitrary $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution fees via Mailgun, their email provider.
So what resembled an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Calendar Integration.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you understand how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, building depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the reality no person tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– take a look at the actual price.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” really implies.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing reviews around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Discover individuals with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a system that actually works the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job monitoring tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but excellent for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can not claim or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown migration– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked as well tough to develop something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that just work.