So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Form Builder.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of simplifying whatever under one roof covering sounds like a productivity desire. But let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I want a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned wonderful.
I imply, Keap took care of every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been best, but it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech stack is ruthless. I wish I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, job status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Falling Apart
At first, it looked like points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of get in touches with. Totally irrelevant content. 3 days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, removed and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to support. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to gain access to 3 various setup panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to like the flexibility, however every little thing about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can not picture what it’s like for a person simply getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 costs turning up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Form Builder.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you understand exactly how essential deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, developing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it resembles seeing your hard work get flushed away.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your track record, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the fact no person tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– whenever.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low cost– consider the actual cost.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” truly implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the radiant reviews out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a compensation. Locate people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a system that in fact works the means it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task administration tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but fantastic for client partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their largest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can’t pretend or else.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked too tough to construct something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.