So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it can change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel For B2C.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of streamlining whatever under one roofing system sounds like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I want someone had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I indicate, Keap handled whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, yet it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech pile is harsh. I wish I can tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I in fact 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 client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Completely unimportant content. 3 days in a row. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation setups, deleted and restored sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of another error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. You need to gain access to 3 various setup panels– scattered across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to love the flexibility, yet everything concerning the user experience made me seem like I needed a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can’t envision what it’s like for a person just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin piling up. I discovered arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment fees via Mailgun, their email provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For B2C.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you understand just how important deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, building count on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort get purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality no person tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to switch over.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was strong. That deserves greater than any new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– consider the real price.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” truly indicates.
4. Watch out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a commission. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a system that in fact functions the way it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task management tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, yet wonderful for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can not act otherwise.
So before you study a major movement– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too difficult to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.