So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Affiliate Commission.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system sounds like a productivity desire. Yet let me stop you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I wish somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored set of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I imply, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t best, yet it was trustworthy. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology stack is harsh. I wish I could inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
At first, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Totally pointless web content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation setups, erased and restored series, even connected to sustain. Their action? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered too much to risk an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to access three different setup panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to like the versatility, yet everything concerning the individual experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t envision what it resembles for someone just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution fees with Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting way less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Affiliate Commission.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you know exactly how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, developing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– check out the real cost.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant reviews out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Find people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact works the way it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project management tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however excellent for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not claim or else.
So before you study a major movement– or worse, encourage your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned also tough to develop something excellent. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just work.