So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel GDPR Compliance Guide.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of improving everything under one roof sounds like a performance desire. But let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your favored pair of shoes all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked excellent.
I imply, Keap dealt with every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole tech stack is harsh. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental power it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like things were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of calls. Entirely unimportant content. Three days straight. And not the same people either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation setups, erased and reconstructed sequences, even reached out to support. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You need to gain access to 3 different configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to love the flexibility, yet whatever about the individual experience made me feel like I needed a programmer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not picture what it’s like for someone simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that begin accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution charges through Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel GDPR Compliance Guide.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you understand just how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, constructing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort get flushed away.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth no person informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, but it was strong. That’s worth greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– consider the real cost.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the glowing testimonials out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a platform that really functions the way it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task monitoring tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however great for client partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-blown migration– or worse, encourage your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also tough to build something great. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply work.