So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it could change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Chatbot.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing every little thing under one roofing seems like an efficiency desire. Yet let me stop you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I want a person had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I suggest, Keap dealt with everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t best, yet it was reputable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire technology stack is ruthless. I desire I could inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong team of calls. Completely unimportant content. Three days in a row. And not the same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and rebuilt sequences, even connected to sustain. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to risk one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You have to accessibility three different setup panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to like the adaptability, but everything about the individual experience made me feel like I required a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can’t imagine what it resembles for somebody simply beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that start piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery charges via Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Chatbot.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of email marketing, you recognize how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, building count on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the reality no person tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– check out the actual expense.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” truly suggests.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the radiant testimonies around? They’re from associates trying to rack up a compensation. Locate individuals with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a platform that really works the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task monitoring devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, but great for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-scale migration– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned also hard to construct something wonderful. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that simply function.