So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) Can GoHighLevel Replace Your Existing CRM.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing everything under one roofing system sounds like a performance desire. Yet let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I desire someone had gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored set of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I mean, Keap dealt with whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Sure, it had not been excellent, but it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech stack is harsh. I want I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it resembled things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– disorder.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong group of calls. Completely irrelevant web content. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, also connected to sustain. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of another screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You have to access 3 various configuration panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without instructions. I wished to like the flexibility, but whatever about the individual experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t picture what it resembles for a person simply getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start accumulating. I saw random $10 fees turning up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment costs via Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what looked like an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Can GoHighLevel Replace Your Existing CRM.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, building trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your track record, your client experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap had not been showy, but it was solid. That deserves greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to low prices– look at the actual price.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” really indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the radiant reviews around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a payment. Find people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that really functions the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job monitoring tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. But it really did not. And I can’t pretend or else.
So prior to you dive into a major movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned also hard to construct something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply function.