So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) Boost Your SEO with GoHighLevel.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of streamlining every little thing under one roof covering sounds like a productivity dream. But let me quit you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I desire someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked great.
I mean, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, however it was trustworthy. 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 considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech stack is brutal. I desire I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I in fact underwent:
- 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, task status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the mental power it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
At first, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect team of calls. Completely irrelevant web content. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, also reached out to support. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You need to gain access to three various configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to love the flexibility, yet whatever regarding the customer experience made me feel like I required a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t imagine what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start piling up. I saw random $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery charges through Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Boost Your SEO with GoHighLevel.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, building depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was strong. That deserves greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– check out the actual cost.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” really suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the radiant reviews available? They’re from associates attempting to score a compensation. Find individuals with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a system that really functions the method it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job monitoring tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however fantastic for customer collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their largest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not pretend or else.
So prior to you study a full-blown migration– or worse, persuade your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned also tough to build something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that just work.