So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Buy Now Pay Later.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying whatever under one roofing system sounds like a performance dream. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it worked great.
I mean, Keap handled everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, however it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole technology pile is brutal. I wish I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Crumbling
Initially, it resembled points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– disorder.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of get in touches with. Entirely unimportant content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, also connected to support. Their feedback? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to risk one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to gain access to three different arrangement panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without directions. I wanted to like the adaptability, however everything concerning the customer experience made me seem like I required a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not picture what it resembles for somebody simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start piling up. I observed random $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery charges through Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what appeared like a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting means much less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Buy Now Pay Later.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any sort of email marketing, you understand just how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, building count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to change.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was strong. That’s worth more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– whenever.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for small cost– check out the real price.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” truly means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies out there? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a system that really functions the way it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can’t pretend or else.
So prior to you study a full-blown migration– or even worse, convince your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also difficult to develop something excellent. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that simply work.