So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Vs Shopify.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roofing sounds like a performance dream. Yet let me stop you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I wish someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite set of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I suggest, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it had not been perfect, however it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology pile is ruthless. I desire I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
At first, it appeared like points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of calls. Completely unimportant material. 3 days in a row. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, also connected to sustain. Their response? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You need to gain access to 3 different arrangement panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I intended to enjoy the flexibility, however every little thing about the individual experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not envision what it resembles for someone just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that start piling up. I noticed random $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges with Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what looked like an inexpensive, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Shopify.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, constructing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get purged away.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality no person tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was solid. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low cost– check out the real price.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” really indicates.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the radiant endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Find individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a system that in fact functions the way it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific project administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, but great for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to every little thing. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can not claim otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or worse, encourage your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned also difficult to develop something great. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that just function.