So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it can change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) Does GoHighLevel Work in South Africa.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of improving everything under one roof covering sounds like a productivity dream. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I desire a person had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite set of shoes unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I indicate, Keap took care of every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it had not been perfect, but it was reliable. Like an excellent 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 new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I wish I could tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental energy it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
Initially, it appeared like things were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Completely irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, even connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails just maintained going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You have to gain access to three various arrangement panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to love the flexibility, but everything about the customer experience made me feel like I required a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t visualize what it’s like for somebody just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start piling up. I saw random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution fees through Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Does GoHighLevel Work in South Africa.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of e-mail marketing, you understand how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, developing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort get purged away.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your track record, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was strong. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– take a look at the real cost.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” truly implies.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing reviews available? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a payment. Discover people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that really works the method it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific project monitoring tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet great for customer collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to whatever. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their largest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can not claim or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned also 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 tools that just work.