So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Course Builder.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving whatever under one roof covering seems like an efficiency desire. But let me stop you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I want a person had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite set of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked wonderful.
I mean, Keap took care of whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole technology pile is harsh. I wish I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for as well long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
Initially, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Entirely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, removed and rebuilt sequences, also connected to support. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Easy job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You have to access 3 various arrangement panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to like the versatility, but every little thing regarding the customer experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can’t picture what it resembles for someone just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that begin accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution fees with Mailgun, their e-mail 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 means less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Course Builder.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of kind of email marketing, you know exactly how essential deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, constructing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great reason to switch over.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was strong. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– consider the genuine cost.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” really implies.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful endorsements available? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a payment. Find people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a system that really functions the method it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project management tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet fantastic for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not make believe or else.
So before you study a major movement– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned too difficult to build something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply function.