So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Pros and Cons.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving every little thing under one roofing seems like a performance dream. However let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I want someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap took care of every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Certain, it had not been excellent, however it was trustworthy. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole technology pile is brutal. I desire I can tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for too long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
At first, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I awakened to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the incorrect team of contacts. Totally irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, deleted and rebuilt series, even connected to support. Their action? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying 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. Setups are hidden in places no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You have to accessibility three various arrangement panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to like the flexibility, yet every little thing regarding the user experience made me feel like I required a programmer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it’s like for someone just starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 costs appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges with Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Pros and Cons.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you know exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, building count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain purged away.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap had not been fancy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– check out the genuine cost.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” really suggests.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the glowing testimonials available? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a compensation. Locate individuals with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a platform that really works the way it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project administration devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-blown migration– or worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well tough to construct something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just work.