So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Email Services.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing whatever under one roofing seems like a productivity dream. However let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I desire a person had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite set of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I mean, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been ideal, yet it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire technology pile is brutal. I desire I might inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong team of get in touches with. Totally unimportant material. 3 days in a row. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation setups, erased and reconstructed series, also connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered too much to run the risk of another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Easy job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You have to gain access to 3 different arrangement panels– spread across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to enjoy the adaptability, yet every little thing regarding the customer experience made me seem like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t visualize what it resembles for somebody just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that begin piling up. I noticed random $10 costs popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment costs through Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled 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 way less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Email Services.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you know how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, building trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s exactly what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the truth no one informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to change.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was solid. That deserves greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– every single time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– check out the actual price.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” really means.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies out there? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a payment. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that really functions the means it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job monitoring devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however excellent for customer collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked too tough to build something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply work.