So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel SaaS Pro Plan.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving every little thing under one roofing system sounds like a performance desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I want a person had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings 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 migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked excellent.
I imply, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my company. Certain, it had not been best, yet it was reputable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole technology stack is harsh. I want I can tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect group of contacts. Completely irrelevant material. 3 days in a row. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, also connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails just kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You have to gain access to three different arrangement panels– spread across the interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to like the versatility, but whatever concerning the customer experience made me seem like I needed a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t picture what it’s like for someone simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start piling up. I noticed random $10 charges turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery fees via Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting method less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel SaaS Pro Plan.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of kind of e-mail marketing, you understand how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, building trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get flushed down the tubes.
That’s precisely what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was solid. That deserves greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– consider the genuine expense.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” really means.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies around? They’re from affiliates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a system that in fact works the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job management tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, yet wonderful for customer partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not claim or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also hard to develop something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply function.