So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel For Realtors.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying whatever under one roofing sounds like an efficiency dream. However let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your preferred set of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I mean, Keap took care of whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole tech stack is ruthless. I desire I could inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Breaking Down
At first, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of calls. Totally irrelevant material. 3 days straight. And not the exact same people either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and rebuilt series, also connected to support. Their reaction? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to risk another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You need to accessibility 3 different setup panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to love the adaptability, yet whatever regarding the individual experience made me seem like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it’s like for somebody just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that start piling up. I discovered arbitrary $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery costs through Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what looked like a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Realtors.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you recognize just how essential deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, building depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get purged away.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was strong. That deserves greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– consider the real price.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” actually suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonials around? They’re from associates trying to rack up a commission. Find people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a platform that really works the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project management devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but fantastic for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their largest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So before you study a major migration– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked as well difficult to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply function.