So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) Does GoHighLevel Integrate with HubSpot.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of enhancing every little thing under one roofing system seems like a performance dream. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I wish a person had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your favored set of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it worked great.
I imply, Keap managed everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my company. Sure, it had not been best, but it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I wish I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental power it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
Initially, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the incorrect team of contacts. Entirely unimportant web content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, even reached out to support. Their response? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered too much to take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You have to accessibility 3 various setup panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to like the adaptability, however every little thing about the individual experience made me seem like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t envision what it’s like for someone simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that begin accumulating. I saw random $10 fees popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared like an inexpensive, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Does GoHighLevel Integrate with HubSpot.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you understand how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, building depend on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts 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 Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the reality no one informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t fancy, but it was solid. That deserves greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for low cost– look at the actual expense.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” really suggests.
4. Look out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful testimonies available? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Locate people with nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact works the method it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job monitoring devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however excellent for client partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their greatest cheerleader. However it didn’t. And I can not claim otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-scale migration– or worse, convince your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked also tough to develop something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that just work.