So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it could change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Careers.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying every little thing under one roof sounds like an efficiency desire. But let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I wish somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked wonderful.
I imply, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire technology pile is harsh. I desire I might inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental energy it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I awakened to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect team of contacts. Totally pointless material. 3 days in a row. And not the same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and restored series, also connected to support. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to risk another error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus 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 started. You need to access 3 various arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to love the flexibility, however everything regarding the customer experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t envision what it resembles for a person just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that begin accumulating. I discovered random $10 charges turning up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution charges with Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Careers.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, building count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like viewing your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– check out the genuine expense.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” actually suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a commission. Discover people with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a system that in fact functions the means it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job management devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet fantastic for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their largest supporter. But it really did not. And I can not make believe or else.
So prior to you study a major movement– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well hard to develop something great. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just function.