So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) Can You Build Websites with GoHighLevel.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of streamlining everything under one roof covering sounds like an efficiency dream. Yet let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I want someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I imply, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been excellent, but it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire tech pile is brutal. I desire I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental power it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
At first, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of contacts. Entirely pointless web content. 3 days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, deleted and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered too much to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. You have to accessibility 3 different arrangement panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without instructions. I wished to enjoy the versatility, but everything about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t imagine what it resembles for a person just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment costs through Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Can You Build Websites with GoHighLevel.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you understand exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, constructing depend on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work obtain purged away.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your reputation, your client experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality no one tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, but it was solid. That deserves greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– consider the genuine price.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” really means.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the radiant reviews available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a compensation. Find people with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a system that in fact works the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project administration devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however excellent for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. But it really did not. And I can not claim otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-blown migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too tough to develop something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just function.