So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Cost.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving everything under one roof seems like a performance dream. But let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I want someone had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I imply, Keap took care of every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was reputable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire technology pile is harsh. I wish I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it sucked out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Entirely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, deleted and reconstructed sequences, also connected to support. Their feedback? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of one more error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You need to gain access to three different configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to love the versatility, yet every little thing concerning the customer experience made me feel like I required a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t visualize what it’s like for someone just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what looked like a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Cost.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you understand how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, constructing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it resembles watching your effort get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your customer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, however it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– each time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for low prices– consider the genuine price.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” truly suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing testimonials around? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Locate individuals with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a platform that actually works the means it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task monitoring devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-blown migration– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also hard to build something excellent. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just work.