So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel API 1.0 & API 2.0.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving every little thing under one roofing system seems like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish a person had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of shoes all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked great.
I mean, Keap took care of everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my service. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech pile is harsh. I desire I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
At first, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong group of calls. Completely irrelevant content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, removed and reconstructed sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their response? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered too much to run the risk of another error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Basic job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You need to gain access to 3 different configuration panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to enjoy the flexibility, however every little thing regarding the individual experience made me seem like I required a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it’s like for a person simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that start accumulating. I discovered random $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment costs with Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel API 1.0 & API 2.0.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you know just how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, building count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it’s like watching your hard work get flushed down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– whenever.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for low prices– consider the genuine price.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” really indicates.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A lot of the glowing testimonials around? They’re from associates trying to score a payment. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that actually functions the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job monitoring tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for client collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not act or else.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or worse, encourage your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned also hard to build something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply function.