So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel $497 Pricing Plan.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of streamlining everything under one roof seems like an efficiency dream. However let me stop you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I want a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned excellent.
I suggest, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my service. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I wish I might inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of calls. Completely unnecessary content. 3 days in a row. And not the same people either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and reconstructed sequences, also connected to sustain. Their response? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered too much to risk one more error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You need to gain access to three different setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without directions. I wanted to enjoy the flexibility, yet every little thing about the individual experience made me seem like I required a designer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t picture what it resembles for someone just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that begin accumulating. I noticed random $10 charges appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment fees via Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less integrity in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel $497 Pricing Plan.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you know exactly how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, constructing trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work obtain purged away.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your track record, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was solid. That’s worth more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– look at the genuine cost.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful reviews out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a compensation. Locate people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that really functions the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job administration tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but wonderful for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants 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 perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not claim otherwise.
So before you study a major movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked also tough to develop something great. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that simply function.