So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) Does GoHighLevel Integrate with QuickBooks.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving everything under one roof covering sounds like a productivity dream. Yet let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I wish someone had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I mean, Keap handled whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire technology pile is brutal. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it drew out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for too long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
At first, it looked like points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of contacts. Entirely unimportant web content. Three days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, removed and restored sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of another error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You need to gain access to 3 various setup panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to love the adaptability, yet every little thing about the individual experience made me seem like I needed a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it’s like for somebody simply beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that begin piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution charges with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less dependability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Does GoHighLevel Integrate with QuickBooks.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, constructing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles seeing your hard work get flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth no person tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was solid. That deserves greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– look at the genuine price.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” actually indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful reviews available? They’re from associates trying to score a payment. Discover people with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that in fact works the means it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project administration devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet fantastic for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their largest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not act or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or worse, encourage your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned also hard to construct something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just function.