So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) Does GoHighLevel Have Hosting.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying whatever under one roof seems like an efficiency dream. But let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred set of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I indicate, Keap dealt with everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my service. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, however 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 begin considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole tech stack is harsh. I desire I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental energy it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One early morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong group of calls. Entirely unimportant content. 3 days straight. And not the very same individuals either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and restored series, also reached out to support. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You have to accessibility three various arrangement panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to love the versatility, yet every little thing regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not visualize what it’s like for somebody simply beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery fees via Mailgun, their email company.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Does GoHighLevel Have Hosting.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of type of e-mail marketing, you understand just how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, building count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the reality no one informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– look at the genuine cost.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” actually implies.
4. Look out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the radiant testimonials available? They’re from associates attempting to score a payment. Discover people with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a system that really functions the means it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job management tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however wonderful for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned also hard to build something great. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that simply work.