So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Affiliate Ads.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of improving every little thing under one roofing sounds like a productivity desire. However let me quit you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I want someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your favorite set of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned fantastic.
I suggest, Keap took care of everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my company. Certain, it had not been perfect, but it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole technology stack is harsh. I wish I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect group of calls. Totally pointless content. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and reconstructed sequences, even reached out to support. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered too much to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You have to accessibility 3 different setup panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to love the flexibility, however everything regarding the individual experience made me feel like I required a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can’t picture what it’s like for someone 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. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery charges with Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting means less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Affiliate Ads.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, developing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work obtain purged away.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was solid. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– look at the genuine cost.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” truly implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing reviews around? They’re from associates trying to rack up a compensation. Discover people with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a platform that really works the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job administration devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but terrific for client collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest supporter. However it really did not. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So before you study a major movement– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned also hard to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just work.