So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Vs ClickUp.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving everything under one roof covering seems like a performance desire. But let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish someone had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your favorite set of shoes unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I mean, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it had not been best, but it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire technology stack is brutal. I desire I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Completely pointless web content. Three days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and restored series, even reached out to support. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered too much to risk one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Basic task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You need to access 3 different setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to like the versatility, but whatever concerning the user experience made me seem like I needed a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t imagine what it’s like for someone just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that begin piling up. I discovered arbitrary $10 costs turning up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment fees with Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs ClickUp.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, developing trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t fancy, but it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for small cost– take a look at the genuine price.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” really indicates.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews around? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a compensation. Find people with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a platform that actually works the means it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job monitoring devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but great for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not claim or else.
So prior to you study a major movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too hard to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that just function.