So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it can change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Plugins.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying whatever under one roof seems like a productivity desire. But let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I wish somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap managed whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t best, but it was dependable. 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 begin considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. 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 start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech pile is brutal. I wish I might inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of calls. Completely unnecessary content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, also reached out to sustain. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply maintained heading 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 error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You need to gain access to three different arrangement panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to enjoy the versatility, yet everything about the individual experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t envision what it resembles for someone just starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start accumulating. I discovered random $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment costs through Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Plugins.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how important deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, building trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it’s like viewing your hard work obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your customer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was solid. That deserves greater than any new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every single time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– take a look at the real expense.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” really means.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the radiant reviews around? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a commission. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a system that in fact works the means it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task management devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but excellent for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can not make believe or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or worse, encourage your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too difficult to develop something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that simply work.