So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read just how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Customer Service.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roof covering seems like a performance dream. Yet let me stop you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I want somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored pair of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it worked excellent.
I imply, Keap handled whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Sure, it had not been best, but it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object 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 humming about a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire technology stack is ruthless. I wish I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for as well long? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it appeared like things were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect team of calls. Completely unnecessary content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and rebuilt sequences, even connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You have to gain access to 3 various setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to enjoy the adaptability, yet everything about the user experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing 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
Right here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that begin accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution fees with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Customer Service.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of email marketing, you understand just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, building trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort get purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your reputation, your client experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact no one tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was solid. That’s worth more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– consider the genuine expense.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” actually indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews around? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a compensation. Discover people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a platform that actually functions the way it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job administration tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but wonderful for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can’t make believe or else.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or worse, encourage your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned also difficult to construct something wonderful. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just work.