So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Assessments and Quizzes.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of enhancing whatever under one roofing system seems like a performance desire. However let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I want somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I suggest, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it had not been perfect, but it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire tech stack is brutal. I desire I might tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of contacts. Totally pointless web content. 3 days in a row. And not the same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and rebuilt sequences, also connected to support. Their response? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You have to accessibility 3 different setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without directions. I intended to love the versatility, however whatever about the customer experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it’s like for a person just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution charges through Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled an affordable, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Assessments and Quizzes.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you understand just how essential deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, building depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get purged away.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your online reputation, your client experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality no person tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for low prices– look at the genuine expense.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” truly means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the glowing testimonials out there? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a system that actually functions the way it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job administration tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however wonderful for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-blown migration– or even worse, convince your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too hard to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that just work.