So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Bookkeeper Playbook.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving whatever under one roofing seems like a performance dream. But let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I want somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned terrific.
I imply, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it had not been ideal, but it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology stack is harsh. I desire I might tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental power it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– disorder.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong team of calls. Entirely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, removed and rebuilt sequences, also connected to support. Their feedback? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You need to access 3 various configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to like the flexibility, yet whatever about the individual experience made me feel like I needed a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not imagine what it resembles for somebody simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that begin accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 fees turning up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution fees through Mailgun, their email provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less dependability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Bookkeeper Playbook.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, developing depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort obtain purged away.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was strong. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– consider the genuine expense.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” really indicates.
4. Look out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing reviews around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Discover people with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that in fact works the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task management tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however great for client collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can’t claim or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale migration– or worse, convince your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned also difficult to build something excellent. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply function.