So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel ChatGPT.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roofing seems like an efficiency desire. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I desire somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I suggest, Keap managed whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Certain, it had not been best, yet it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole tech pile is harsh. I wish I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Completely pointless web content. 3 days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, removed and reconstructed series, also reached out to sustain. Their response? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the emails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You need to gain access to three various configuration panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to enjoy the flexibility, however every little thing about the user experience made me feel like I required a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it resembles for a person just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start piling up. I saw random $10 fees popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment charges with Mailgun, their email provider.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel ChatGPT.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of e-mail marketing, you know just how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, constructing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles watching your effort get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was solid. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– check out the actual price.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” actually implies.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the radiant testimonies out there? They’re from associates attempting to score a compensation. Locate people with nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
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 actually works the way it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task management tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet wonderful for customer partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their most significant supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you study a major migration– or worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too difficult to build something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.