So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Custom Objects.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system seems like a performance desire. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I wish a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an experience 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 frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I suggest, Keap took care of whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Sure, it had not been excellent, yet it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. 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 humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’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 break. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
Initially, it resembled points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Totally pointless content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same people either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt sequences, even connected to support. Their action? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You have to access 3 different arrangement panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to love the adaptability, yet every little thing regarding the user experience made me feel like I required a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can’t picture what it’s like for a person simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution charges with Mailgun, their email provider.
So what appeared like a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting way less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Custom Objects.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you know just how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, building trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get purged away.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your customer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the reality no one tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was strong. That’s worth greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for low cost– take a look at the actual cost.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” really indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the radiant reviews around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a compensation. Discover people with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a system that in fact works the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job management tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, yet wonderful for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can’t act or else.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or worse, persuade your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the tough concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned as well difficult to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just work.