So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it can change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) Does GoHighLevel Use WordPress.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of enhancing whatever under one roofing seems like a performance dream. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I wish a person had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I indicate, Keap dealt with every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole technology pile is brutal. I desire I might tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong team of calls. Entirely irrelevant content. Three days straight. And not the very same people either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and restored sequences, even connected to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the emails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Simple task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You need to accessibility three various setup panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to love the flexibility, yet every little thing concerning the user experience made me seem like I needed a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not visualize what it resembles for somebody simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin accumulating. I discovered random $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment fees with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled an inexpensive, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Does GoHighLevel Use WordPress.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you understand how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, building trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort obtain purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a great reason to change.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was solid. That deserves greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– consider the genuine price.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the radiant testimonies around? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a compensation. Find people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact works the method it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project management tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however excellent for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, convince your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked as well hard to develop something excellent. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply work.