So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Avis.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving everything under one roofing system seems like a performance dream. But let me stop you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I desire somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked fantastic.
I indicate, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, however it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology stack is ruthless. I desire I can tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Entirely unnecessary web content. 3 days straight. And not the very same individuals either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and rebuilt series, even reached out to support. Their feedback? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You need to accessibility three various configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to love the adaptability, however every little thing about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting alongside 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 not picture what it resembles for a person simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that begin piling up. I noticed random $10 fees turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery charges with Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what appeared 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 means much less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Avis.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you know how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, developing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s precisely what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap had not been showy, however it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– take a look at the genuine expense.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” really indicates.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonies around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Find individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact functions the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project monitoring devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however terrific for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d probably be their most significant supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not act or else.
So before you study a full-blown movement– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also difficult to construct something wonderful. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that just work.