So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Business Card Scanner.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of improving every little thing under one roof covering seems like a performance dream. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I wish somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I indicate, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been ideal, yet it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole tech stack is brutal. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological power it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect team of calls. Completely unimportant material. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, also reached out to support. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You need to accessibility three different configuration panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to like the flexibility, but every little thing regarding the user experience made me feel like I required a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it resembles for a person simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that start piling up. I saw random $10 costs popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery fees with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less dependability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Business Card Scanner.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of email marketing, you understand exactly how essential deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, developing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it’s like watching your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the truth no person informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch over.
Keap had not been flashy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– take a look at the actual price.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” truly implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies around? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
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 system that actually functions the means it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job management tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, but great for client partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. But it didn’t. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So before you study a major migration– or worse, convince your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked as well difficult to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply function.