So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it could change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Vs Wix.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of streamlining whatever under one roof covering sounds like a productivity desire. But let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish someone had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I imply, Keap dealt with whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. 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 about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology pile is harsh. I desire I can tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental power it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Entirely irrelevant content. 3 days in a row. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and rebuilt sequences, even connected to support. Their action? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered excessive to risk another screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You have to gain access to three different setup panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to like the flexibility, however whatever about the user experience made me seem like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it resembles for somebody just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that begin piling up. I noticed random $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges through Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what resembled an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less dependability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Wix.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you understand how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, building trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices 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 since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact 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 reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for low prices– consider the actual expense.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” really means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the glowing reviews out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a commission. Locate people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a system that really works the means it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but wonderful for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too tough to develop something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that simply work.