So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Personal Booking Calendar.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of streamlining every little thing under one roofing sounds like a productivity dream. But let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I want a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I mean, Keap took care of every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my organization. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, however it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole tech stack is harsh. I desire I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
At first, it resembled things were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Entirely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the very same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, deleted and reconstructed sequences, even connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered way too much to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You need to gain access to 3 various arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to like the flexibility, yet everything about the individual experience made me feel like I required a designer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not picture what it’s like for a person just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that begin accumulating. I saw random $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery costs via Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting way less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Personal Booking Calendar.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of kind of email marketing, you recognize exactly how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, building count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles seeing your hard work get flushed away.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– look at the genuine price.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” truly means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful endorsements out there? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Discover individuals with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that actually functions the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project monitoring devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however great for client collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. However it really did not. And I can’t act or else.
So prior to you study a major migration– or worse, convince your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also difficult to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just function.