So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the glowing evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) Figma To GoHighLevel.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of enhancing everything under one roof seems like a performance desire. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire a person had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred set 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– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked great.
I indicate, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t best, however it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire tech stack is brutal. I want I might inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong team of contacts. Entirely pointless content. 3 days straight. And not the exact same people either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, even connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You have to gain access to 3 various arrangement panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to like the flexibility, however whatever regarding the customer experience made me seem like I required a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t imagine what it’s like for a person just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that start piling up. I discovered random $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Figma To GoHighLevel.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you understand just how essential deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, developing depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get flushed away.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed 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 upon third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your track record, your client experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– check out the genuine price.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” really indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews out there? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a payment. Discover people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that in fact functions the method it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project management tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but excellent for client partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their most significant supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t pretend or else.
So prior to you dive into a major migration– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned also difficult to build something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to tools that just function.