So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Calculator.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system sounds like a productivity dream. Yet let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I want someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your favored pair of shoes unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I mean, Keap handled whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my service. Sure, it had not been ideal, yet it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech stack is ruthless. I want I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect group of calls. Entirely pointless material. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, deleted and restored series, also connected to sustain. Their response? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to risk another error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You need to gain access to three different arrangement panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without directions. I wanted to love the versatility, however whatever about the customer experience made me feel like I required a designer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not visualize what it resembles for a person just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that start accumulating. I discovered random $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery costs through Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what resembled an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Calculator.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of type of email marketing, you understand just how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, constructing trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the reality no person informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was solid. That’s worth greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– take a look at the genuine cost.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” really implies.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies out there? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a system that in fact functions the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project management tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for client partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can’t act otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-blown movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked as well difficult to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that just work.