So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Relationship Number.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roofing seems like a productivity dream. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I desire somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it worked excellent.
I mean, Keap managed whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole technology pile is brutal. I desire I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Crumbling
At first, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant material. 3 days in a row. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation setups, erased and reconstructed sequences, also reached out to support. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot 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 one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me paint you an image. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. You need to gain access to three different setup panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I intended to like the versatility, but everything concerning the customer experience made me seem like I needed a designer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not envision what it resembles for someone simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that start accumulating. I observed random $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment costs via 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 way less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Relationship Number.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you understand just how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, constructing depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it resembles seeing your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the reality no person tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was solid. That deserves greater than any new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for small cost– consider the genuine cost.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” really means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a payment. Discover people with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that actually works the means it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job administration tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but terrific for client collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest cheerleader. However it didn’t. And I can’t pretend or else.
So before you dive into a full-blown migration– or worse, persuade your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned also difficult to develop something great. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that simply function.