So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Advanced API.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing whatever under one roof covering sounds like a performance dream. Yet let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of shoes unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned terrific.
I imply, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was reputable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire technology stack is harsh. I want I can inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for also long? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Crumbling
At first, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Entirely irrelevant content. Three days straight. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and restored sequences, also reached out to support. Their action? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered way too much to risk another error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You need to access three various arrangement panels– spread across the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to love the versatility, but whatever about the individual experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t envision what it resembles for a person simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that start accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 costs appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery fees with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting method less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Advanced API.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, building count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain flushed away.
That’s specifically what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth no person tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch.
Keap had not been showy, however it was solid. That deserves more than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– look at the real expense.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” actually suggests.
4. Watch out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the glowing testimonials available? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Find people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact works the means it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project monitoring devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet excellent for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed 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 most likely be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or worse, convince your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned also difficult to construct something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that just function.