So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel For Business.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of streamlining whatever under one roofing sounds like a productivity dream. But let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I want somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap managed whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it had not been excellent, but it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire technology pile is harsh. I desire I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, job status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
Initially, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent to the incorrect group of contacts. Totally unnecessary material. 3 days in a row. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and restored sequences, even reached out to support. Their response? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Easy job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You need to accessibility three different setup panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to like the versatility, however whatever regarding the customer experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t imagine what it resembles for somebody simply beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin piling up. I observed random $10 costs appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution charges with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Business.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of email marketing, you recognize exactly how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, constructing trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the truth no person informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, but it was strong. That’s worth more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– take a look at the real cost.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” actually means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a commission. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a system that in fact works the means it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job administration tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for client partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d probably be their greatest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t claim or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale migration– or worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned also difficult to construct something wonderful. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that simply work.