So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Certified Admin.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of improving whatever under one roofing system sounds like a productivity dream. But let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I wish a person had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I suggest, Keap handled everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my organization. Sure, it wasn’t best, yet it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole technology stack is brutal. I want I could inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Entirely unimportant content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and reconstructed series, also reached out to sustain. Their reaction? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Easy job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You need to accessibility three various configuration panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to love the adaptability, yet everything concerning the user experience made me feel like I required a programmer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it resembles for somebody simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 costs appearing– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery costs with Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Certified Admin.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you understand exactly how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, developing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the truth no person tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth more than any new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– take a look at the real expense.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” truly means.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonials out there? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a system that really works the means it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job management tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet wonderful for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant cheerleader. However it didn’t. And I can’t act otherwise.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked as well difficult to construct something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that simply work.