So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Custom Fields.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of enhancing whatever under one roof covering seems like an efficiency desire. But let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire someone had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I indicate, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been best, but it was trusted. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire tech stack is brutal. I want I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Crumbling
Initially, it looked like points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong team of calls. Completely unimportant content. Three days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and restored series, even connected to sustain. Their action? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of one more screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you an image. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You need to accessibility 3 various configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I intended to like the versatility, yet everything concerning the customer experience made me seem like I needed a designer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it resembles for somebody just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin accumulating. I saw random $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Custom Fields.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you know how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, building depend on, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was strong. That’s worth greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every single time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– consider the actual expense.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually indicates.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the radiant reviews out there? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Find people with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a platform that in fact functions the way it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job administration tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but excellent for customer partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too hard to construct something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that simply work.