So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Black Friday Deal.
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 simplifying every little thing under one roof seems like a productivity desire. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I wish somebody had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I imply, Keap handled every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t ideal, however it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire tech pile is brutal. I want I could inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Breaking Down
At first, it looked like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Completely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation setups, removed and reconstructed series, also connected to support. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of one more error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You have to access three different configuration panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I intended to enjoy the flexibility, however everything concerning the user experience made me feel like I required a designer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t envision what it resembles for someone just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 costs appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery fees via Mailgun, their email company.
So what appeared like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Black Friday Deal.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, constructing depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work get flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to switch.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was solid. That deserves greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– check out the actual expense.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” really means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful reviews around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Discover individuals with nothing to get.
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 trying to find a platform that really functions the way it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet wonderful for customer partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. But it really did not. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you dive into a major migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well tough to construct something great. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to tools that just function.