So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel For Restaurants.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying every little thing under one roof sounds like a performance desire. But let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I want a person had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned excellent.
I suggest, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it had not been excellent, but it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole tech pile is brutal. I wish I could tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Restore a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological power it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
At first, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Entirely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, removed and rebuilt series, even reached out to support. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. You need to accessibility 3 various setup panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to love the adaptability, yet everything about the customer experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t visualize what it’s like for someone just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what resembled a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Restaurants.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you know exactly how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, developing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it resembles watching your hard work obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your track record, your client experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the truth no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap had not been flashy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– check out the genuine expense.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” actually implies.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant reviews out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a commission. Locate people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a platform that actually works the method it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task administration devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, but excellent for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-blown movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked too tough to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply work.