So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Chat Widget.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of streamlining whatever under one roofing system sounds like a productivity dream. But let me stop you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I desire a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your favorite set of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked excellent.
I mean, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it had not been ideal, however it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental energy it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Breaking Down
At first, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of calls. Totally pointless content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt series, even connected to support. Their response? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to accessibility three various setup panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to love the flexibility, but every little thing concerning the individual experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it’s like for somebody just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin accumulating. I observed random $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment charges via Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Chat Widget.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, developing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your track record, your client experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– look at the genuine expense.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” truly indicates.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the beautiful endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that actually functions the way it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project monitoring devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, but excellent for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. But it really did not. And I can’t act or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or worse, encourage your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also difficult to construct something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with tools that simply work.