So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Better Business Bureau.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving every little thing under one roof covering sounds like a performance dream. But let me stop you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked great.
I imply, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, however it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire technology pile is ruthless. I want I can tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
At first, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong team of contacts. Completely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and rebuilt series, even reached out to support. Their feedback? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered too much to run the risk of one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You have to gain access to 3 different configuration panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without directions. I intended to enjoy the versatility, but everything concerning the customer experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it’s like for a person just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 fees turning up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment fees via Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Better Business Bureau.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, developing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work get flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– check out the real expense.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” really suggests.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonies out there? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a compensation. Find 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.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact functions the means it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however wonderful for customer partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can not act otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale movement– or worse, convince your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well difficult to build something excellent. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.