So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it can change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Email Verification.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of enhancing every little thing under one roof seems like a productivity desire. However let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite set of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned terrific.
I suggest, Keap handled every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t excellent, however it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire technology pile is ruthless. I desire I might inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Breaking Down
Initially, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect group of contacts. Entirely pointless material. 3 days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, even connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of one more error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to accessibility three various arrangement panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to like the versatility, but whatever regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting next to 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 simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin piling up. I discovered arbitrary $10 charges popping up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment costs with Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less dependability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Email Verification.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you understand exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, constructing depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work get purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– check out the genuine cost.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” really suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the radiant endorsements around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a payment. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact works the way it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project management devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but wonderful for client partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-scale migration– or even worse, convince your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked too tough to construct something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just function.