So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel A2P 10DLC.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying whatever under one roof sounds like a productivity dream. But let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish a person had gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored set of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap dealt with everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, however it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech pile is harsh. I wish I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Totally irrelevant material. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and restored sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their action? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You need to access three various configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to love the versatility, but whatever concerning the customer experience made me feel like I needed a designer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t visualize what it resembles for someone just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start accumulating. I observed random $10 costs appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment costs via Mailgun, their email company.
So what resembled 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 getting method less dependability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel A2P 10DLC.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of type of email marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, developing trust fund, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work get flushed away.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the reality no one informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for low prices– check out the genuine expense.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” truly suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A lot of the glowing testimonies available? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a compensation. Discover individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that in fact works the means it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for customer cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t make believe or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also difficult to build something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just function.