So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Desktop App.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing every little thing under one roofing sounds like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I desire someone had gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t ideal, however it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I wish I can inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it resembled points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Totally irrelevant content. 3 days straight. And not the exact same people either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, erased and rebuilt series, even reached out to support. Their feedback? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You have to accessibility three different setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without directions. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, however whatever regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can not envision what it resembles for somebody simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery costs via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what resembled 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 obtaining way less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Desktop App.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you know exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, building depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort get purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your client experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the truth no person tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap had not been showy, however it was solid. That deserves greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every single time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– consider the actual price.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” actually means.
4. Watch out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful endorsements available? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a payment. Find individuals with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a system that in fact works the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job management tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but terrific for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can not act or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked as well hard to construct something excellent. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply function.