So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Data Entry.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving whatever under one roof sounds like a performance desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I desire someone had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your favorite set of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I imply, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it had not been ideal, yet it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire technology pile is harsh. I want I might tell 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 really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Falling Apart
At first, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Entirely irrelevant content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered too much to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Easy job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to accessibility three various arrangement panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to love the flexibility, however every little thing about the individual experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it’s like for somebody just starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that start accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 costs popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery charges with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Data Entry.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, constructing trust, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it resembles watching your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth no person tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– look at the real cost.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually means.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies available? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Discover individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that actually works the way it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project management devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however wonderful for client collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can not make believe or else.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or worse, persuade your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned too difficult to construct something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply function.