So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel 60 Day Free Trial.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of streamlining everything under one roof sounds like a performance dream. But let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I desire a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I imply, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it wasn’t best, yet it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology pile is harsh. I wish I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a dozen automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
At first, it looked like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent to the incorrect group of calls. Entirely unimportant content. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and restored sequences, also connected to support. Their reaction? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to access 3 various setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, but every little thing regarding the user experience made me seem like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can’t imagine what it resembles for somebody just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start piling up. I observed random $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution charges through Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting means less dependability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel 60 Day Free Trial.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of email marketing, you recognize exactly how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, developing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed 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 support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– look at the actual price.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” truly means.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the glowing testimonials around? They’re from associates trying to rack up a commission. Find people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that actually functions the means it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task monitoring devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet excellent for client partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not act or else.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned as well difficult to develop something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to tools that just function.