So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Template Library.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of enhancing whatever under one roofing system seems like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I want a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned fantastic.
I suggest, Keap dealt with whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my organization. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, however it was trusted. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire technology pile is ruthless. I wish I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Breaking Down
Initially, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and rebuilt sequences, also connected to support. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You have to gain access to 3 various configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without directions. I intended to enjoy the adaptability, yet whatever concerning the customer experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not envision what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start piling up. I saw random $10 costs popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution charges with Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Template Library.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you understand how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, building trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work get purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was strong. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– take a look at the actual cost.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” really suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the radiant testimonials out there? They’re from associates trying to score a payment. Discover people with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a system that really works the method it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet fantastic for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not claim or else.
So prior to you dive into a major migration– or even worse, convince your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well difficult to construct something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that simply function.