So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel E-Commerce Stores.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system seems like a performance desire. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I want a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your preferred set of footwear instantly 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– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked fantastic.
I suggest, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my service. Sure, it had not been best, however it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming about 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 Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole tech stack is brutal. I wish I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental energy it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of contacts. Totally unnecessary material. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, deleted and restored sequences, even connected to support. Their action? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You need to access 3 various setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without directions. I intended to like the adaptability, however every little thing regarding the customer experience made me feel like I required a designer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it’s like for a person just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that begin accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 fees popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution costs via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel E-Commerce Stores.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you understand just how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, building trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work get flushed down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your track record, your client experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality no one tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was solid. That deserves greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for small cost– check out the actual price.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” really indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the radiant endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a compensation. Discover individuals with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that actually functions the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task management tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however terrific for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. However it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So before you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too hard to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply work.