So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Snapshot Marketplace.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying everything under one roofing sounds like an efficiency desire. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I desire someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored set of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned excellent.
I indicate, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, yet it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology pile is ruthless. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glance 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– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
At first, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant web content. 3 days straight. And not the same individuals either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, even reached out to sustain. Their response? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered way too much to risk an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You have to gain access to 3 various configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to enjoy the adaptability, yet every little thing concerning the individual experience made me seem like I required a designer sitting alongside 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 visualize what it resembles for somebody simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 charges turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution charges with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting method less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Snapshot Marketplace.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, developing count on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain purged away.
That’s precisely what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to switch.
Keap had not been showy, however it was solid. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– take a look at the genuine expense.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “endless” truly means.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the beautiful testimonies around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a compensation. Discover people with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that actually works the method it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project administration tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but wonderful for customer cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their largest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t claim or else.
So prior to you dive into a major movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned as well tough to build something great. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that simply function.