So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Appointment Booking.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of streamlining everything under one roof sounds like a performance dream. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I wish someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I mean, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, yet it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech stack is harsh. I wish I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental energy it sucked out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Falling Apart
Initially, it resembled things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of calls. Entirely unnecessary web content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, removed and restored sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the emails just kept heading 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 one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Basic task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You have to accessibility three different setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without directions. I intended to like the adaptability, however whatever about the individual experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t imagine what it’s like for somebody just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 costs appearing– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery costs via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting means much less reliability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Appointment Booking.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain flushed away.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap had not been fancy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– check out the real expense.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” actually suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the glowing endorsements around? They’re from associates attempting to score a payment. Find people with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that really works the way it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task management devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for customer cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t pretend or else.
So prior to you study a full-blown migration– or worse, encourage your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also hard to develop something great. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just function.