So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) Does GoHighLevel Integrate with Zapier.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing everything under one roofing system seems like a productivity desire. However let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I wish a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I mean, Keap handled every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t best, however it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire tech pile is harsh. I desire I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Breaking Down
At first, it looked like things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of get in touches with. Totally unnecessary material. Three days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt series, also reached out to sustain. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You need to accessibility 3 different configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to enjoy the flexibility, yet whatever regarding the individual experience made me feel like I required a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it resembles for someone simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 costs popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment costs with Mailgun, their email service provider.
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 getting method less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Does GoHighLevel Integrate with Zapier.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of kind of e-mail marketing, you understand how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, developing depend on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles watching your effort get purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your track record, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to change.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was strong. That deserves greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every single time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– check out the actual cost.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually implies.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements available? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Find people with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a system that really functions the method it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job monitoring devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet excellent for customer collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their most significant supporter. However it really did not. And I can’t claim or else.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the hard inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned too tough to develop something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that simply function.