So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Eliza Agent Platform.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of enhancing everything under one roof covering seems like an efficiency desire. Yet let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish somebody had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I mean, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been excellent, however it was trusted. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire technology pile is brutal. I wish I can tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it sucked out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Completely unimportant web content. Three days in a row. And not the same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt series, even reached out to sustain. Their response? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered excessive to risk one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to accessibility three various setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to like the flexibility, but whatever about the individual experience made me feel like I required a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it resembles for somebody just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that begin accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution charges via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what appeared like an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting means much less dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Eliza Agent Platform.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of email marketing, you know exactly how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, constructing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles seeing your hard work obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched over 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 nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your track record, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the fact no one informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every single time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– check out the actual cost.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” truly means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the radiant reviews around? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a commission. Discover people with nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a platform that really functions the means it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job monitoring tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but fantastic for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to whatever. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not pretend or else.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the tough inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked as well hard to develop something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just function.