So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Affiliate Manager.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of simplifying whatever under one roofing seems like an efficiency dream. Yet let me stop you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I want a person had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I suggest, Keap handled whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my service. Sure, it had not been best, but it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology stack is brutal. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
Initially, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of contacts. Totally unnecessary material. 3 days in a row. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, removed and restored sequences, even connected to support. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. You have to access 3 various configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to like the flexibility, but whatever regarding the customer experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it’s like for a person simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that begin accumulating. I noticed random $10 costs popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery charges via Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending 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 Affiliate Manager.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you recognize just how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, developing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it’s like viewing your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your reputation, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the truth no one informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was strong. That deserves greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– whenever.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– take a look at the real expense.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually means.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the radiant reviews around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Find individuals with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that actually functions the means it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project monitoring tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however fantastic for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. But it really did not. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-blown migration– or worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too difficult to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply function.