So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Blog Post Importer.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving everything under one roofing seems like a performance desire. However let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I wish someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked excellent.
I suggest, Keap managed whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it wasn’t best, however it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy 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 groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech pile is harsh. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it looked like things were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One early morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong team of get in touches with. Entirely pointless web content. Three days in a row. And not the same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and reconstructed sequences, also connected to support. Their action? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to risk one more screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Simple job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You have to gain access to 3 various setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to love the flexibility, however everything concerning the individual experience made me seem like I required a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t imagine what it resembles for someone just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that begin piling up. I discovered arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment costs with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Blog Post Importer.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you know just how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, constructing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a great reason to change.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was strong. That deserves more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– each time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low cost– take a look at the genuine cost.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” actually implies.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Discover people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that actually works the means it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task monitoring devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for customer partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t act or else.
So before you dive into a full-blown movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned also hard to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that simply function.