So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Career Coaching Playbook.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of improving every little thing under one roof covering seems like an efficiency desire. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I wish someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it worked great.
I indicate, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my organization. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, however it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I want I could inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of calls. Totally irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and restored sequences, even connected to support. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You have to accessibility three different arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to enjoy the adaptability, but whatever about the customer experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it resembles for someone simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that begin piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 costs popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery fees through Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Career Coaching Playbook.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of email marketing, you know just how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, developing trust fund, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your reputation, your client experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the fact no one informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every single time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– consider the genuine expense.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” actually means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements out there? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a compensation. Find individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that actually works the means it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task management devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet excellent for customer partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest cheerleader. However it didn’t. And I can’t act or else.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the tough concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too difficult to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that simply work.