So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Chiropractor Playbook.
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 simplifying every little thing under one roof covering seems like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored set of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it had not been best, yet it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech pile is harsh. I wish I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Crumbling
At first, it appeared like things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Totally unnecessary content. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and restored sequences, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me paint 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. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to gain access to three various arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wished to enjoy the versatility, yet every little thing concerning the customer experience made me feel like I needed a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it’s like for a person simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that start piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees appearing– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution charges through Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Chiropractor Playbook.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of email marketing, you recognize how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, building count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort get purged away.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, heated 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 advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was strong. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– take a look at the real cost.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” really means.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonies around? They’re from associates attempting to score a payment. Find people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a system that actually functions the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task monitoring devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however wonderful for client partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So prior to you study a major movement– or even worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked too tough to develop something great. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.