So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) Does GoHighLevel Have A Mobile App.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving everything under one roof covering seems like a performance desire. However let me stop you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I wish a person had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned terrific.
I mean, Keap dealt with everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it had not been excellent, but it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole technology stack is ruthless. I want I can inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Breaking Down
At first, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– disorder.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect team of calls. Totally unimportant content. Three days straight. And not the very same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and restored sequences, even connected to support. Their action? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Easy job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. You need to accessibility three various setup panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to love the flexibility, yet whatever regarding the customer experience made me seem like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it resembles for someone just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 charges appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery charges through Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Does GoHighLevel Have A Mobile App.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of e-mail marketing, you know just how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, constructing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– consider the actual cost.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” actually implies.
4. Watch out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the radiant testimonials out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a commission. Find people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a system that actually works the way it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task administration tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, but terrific for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So prior to you study a major migration– or even worse, convince your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked as well difficult to build something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just work.