So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review just how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Dream Vacation Contest.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roofing system sounds like a performance desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I want somebody had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I mean, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it had not been ideal, but it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology stack is harsh. I want I can inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong group of get in touches with. Totally pointless material. 3 days straight. And not the same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and reconstructed sequences, also connected to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying 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 person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. You need to gain access to 3 various configuration panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without instructions. I wished to like the versatility, however every little thing concerning the individual experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t visualize what it resembles for someone simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start piling up. I saw random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery charges through Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Dream Vacation Contest.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you know exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work get purged away.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the fact no person tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap had not been showy, but it was solid. That’s worth more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– check out the genuine cost.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” actually indicates.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that actually functions the means it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but great for customer collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. But it didn’t. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too tough to build something excellent. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just function.