So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel 5-Day Reviews Challenge.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roofing sounds like an efficiency desire. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I want someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I imply, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t best, however it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech stack is brutal. I wish I can tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Falling Apart
At first, it appeared like points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of contacts. Totally unnecessary material. 3 days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and restored sequences, also reached out to support. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered excessive to risk one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You need to gain access to 3 different setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to like the adaptability, however whatever concerning the customer experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not envision what it resembles for a person just starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start piling up. I saw random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution fees with Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means much less dependability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel 5-Day Reviews Challenge.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of email marketing, you recognize exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, constructing trust fund, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the reality no person tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– consider the actual price.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” really implies.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a compensation. Find individuals with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a system that really functions the means it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, but terrific for customer cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their largest supporter. But it really did not. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you study a major movement– or worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned too tough to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just function.