So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Reputation Management Snapshot.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of enhancing every little thing under one roof covering sounds like a performance desire. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I desire somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite set of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I mean, Keap dealt with whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it had not been excellent, however it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire technology pile is ruthless. I want I can inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it drew out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
At first, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Entirely unnecessary material. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, also reached out to support. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails just kept 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 risk one more screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. You have to gain access to 3 various setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to like the flexibility, yet everything concerning the customer 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 building funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t envision what it resembles for somebody just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that begin piling up. I observed arbitrary $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting way much less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Reputation Management Snapshot.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any sort of email marketing, you recognize just how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, developing depend on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort get purged away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the truth no person tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was strong. That’s worth greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for low cost– look at the genuine cost.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” truly indicates.
4. Look out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing reviews around? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Discover people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that actually works the method it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project administration devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however great for client partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. However it didn’t. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-scale migration– or worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned too difficult to build something excellent. 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.