So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Vs ManyChat.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing everything under one roof covering seems like a performance dream. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I want somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it functioned great.
I suggest, Keap managed every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my company. Sure, it had not been excellent, but it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire technology stack is brutal. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Completely irrelevant content. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt series, also connected to sustain. Their response? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You have to access three various configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to like the flexibility, yet whatever concerning the customer experience made me seem like I needed a programmer sitting alongside 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’s like for a person just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that start piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment fees via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what resembled 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 means less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs ManyChat.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you know just how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, building depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every single time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– look at the genuine price.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” actually suggests.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a payment. Locate people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a platform that actually functions the means it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific project management tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but great for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked as well hard to construct something excellent. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that simply function.