So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Affiliate Agreement.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing everything under one roof sounds like an efficiency dream. However let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, 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 crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I suggest, Keap handled everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my organization. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, but it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire tech pile 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 in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental energy it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong team of contacts. Entirely irrelevant material. 3 days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, deleted and restored series, also connected to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered way too much to risk another error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You need to gain access to three different setup panels– scattered across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to enjoy the flexibility, yet whatever regarding the customer experience made me seem like I required a programmer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it’s like for someone simply beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start piling up. I noticed random $10 costs appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery fees via Mailgun, their email provider.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting way much less integrity in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Affiliate Agreement.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you know just how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, constructing trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work get flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the fact no person informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was solid. That deserves greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– consider the genuine expense.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually indicates.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the radiant reviews around? They’re from affiliates trying to score a compensation. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact works the way it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task management devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet wonderful for client partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not claim otherwise.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked too tough to develop something excellent. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that simply function.