So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Ecommerce.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing every little thing under one roofing system seems like a performance desire. But let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I wish a person had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear instantly 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 specific. And truthfully, it worked fantastic.
I indicate, Keap took care of every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my organization. Sure, it wasn’t best, but it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire technology stack is harsh. I desire I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a dozen automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– chaos.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Completely pointless web content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, even reached out to sustain. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You need to access 3 different configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to love the adaptability, yet whatever regarding the customer experience made me feel like I required a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not envision what it resembles for someone simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start accumulating. I discovered random $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment costs with Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what resembled an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Ecommerce.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of email marketing, you understand how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, constructing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the truth no person informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– each time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– check out the genuine price.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” truly indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonies out there? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Find individuals with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that really functions the method it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project monitoring devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet great for customer partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not act otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a major migration– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned also hard to construct something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply work.