So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Automations.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of simplifying every little thing under one roofing system seems like an efficiency desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish someone had gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I imply, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been ideal, but it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire technology pile is ruthless. I desire I might tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Falling Apart
At first, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Totally unimportant content. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, also reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to risk another error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You have to gain access to 3 various configuration panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to love the versatility, yet whatever concerning the individual experience made me feel like I required a programmer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t imagine what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that begin piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery costs via Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Automations.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, developing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the reality no one tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was strong. That deserves greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– check out the real cost.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” truly suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonials available? They’re from associates attempting to score a compensation. Locate people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a platform that actually works the means it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific project monitoring tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet fantastic for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-blown movement– or worse, encourage your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned as well tough to build something great. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply work.