So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Email Automation.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving whatever under one roofing seems like a performance desire. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I desire someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored set of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned great.
I imply, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t ideal, however it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech stack is brutal. I wish I might tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological energy it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it appeared like points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect group of contacts. Entirely unimportant material. Three days straight. And not the same people either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, deleted and restored sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of one more screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You need to accessibility three different configuration panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, yet every little thing concerning the customer experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it’s like for a person simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 fees popping up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment costs via Mailgun, their email company.
So what looked like a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting way less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Email Automation.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of email marketing, you recognize just how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, developing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– look at the real expense.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” really indicates.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the beautiful endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Discover people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a system that actually works the means it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task management tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however terrific for customer collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to every little thing. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can not act otherwise.
So prior to you study a major movement– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also difficult to construct something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply function.