So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Agency Setup.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving whatever under one roofing sounds like a performance desire. But let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I want someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored set of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it worked excellent.
I imply, Keap handled everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my company. Sure, it had not been excellent, but it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire technology stack is brutal. I desire I could tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I really underwent:
- 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, job status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological energy it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect team of contacts. Entirely unnecessary material. 3 days straight. And not the exact same people either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and rebuilt series, even connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered too much to run the risk of one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Basic task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to accessibility 3 different setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to enjoy the versatility, but whatever concerning the user experience made me seem like I required a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t visualize what it resembles for someone simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that begin piling up. I saw random $10 fees popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery charges via Mailgun, their email company.
So what looked like an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Agency Setup.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you know just how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, constructing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it’s like viewing your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your track record, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– take a look at the genuine cost.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” really means.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A lot of the glowing testimonials out there? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a commission. Find individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a platform that actually works the way it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task administration tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but wonderful for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So prior to you study a full-blown movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked too hard to develop something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply work.