So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Square POS.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of streamlining everything under one roofing sounds like a productivity desire. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I want somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked great.
I mean, Keap dealt with whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my service. Sure, it wasn’t best, but it was trustworthy. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself 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. Blunder.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech pile is harsh. I wish I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
Initially, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of calls. Totally unnecessary web content. Three days straight. And not the same people either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and reconstructed sequences, even reached out to support. Their reaction? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. You need to accessibility 3 various configuration panels– spread across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to love the versatility, but every little thing about the individual experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can not envision what it resembles for a person just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that begin piling up. I observed random $10 fees popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery costs through Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what appeared like an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Square POS.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you understand how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, developing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it’s like viewing your hard work get purged away.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every single time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for low cost– take a look at the actual price.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonies around? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a payment. Locate people with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a platform that in fact functions the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job monitoring devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but excellent for customer collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t pretend or else.
So prior to you study a full-blown movement– or worse, convince your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned too difficult to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just function.