So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Email Templates.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of improving whatever under one roofing system sounds like a performance desire. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. 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 trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored set of shoes unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I imply, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my organization. Certain, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole technology stack is harsh. I want I might tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like things were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I awakened to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Totally unimportant web content. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, even connected to support. Their feedback? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered excessive to risk one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You need to accessibility three various configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to enjoy the flexibility, however whatever regarding the customer experience made me feel like I needed a programmer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t visualize what it resembles for someone simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment costs through Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what appeared like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Email Templates.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of email marketing, you understand how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, building depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles seeing your hard work obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your track record, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth no person tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was solid. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– consider the genuine cost.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” really means.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A lot of the beautiful reviews out there? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Find people with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a system that actually functions the method it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project monitoring tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, but terrific for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their largest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-blown migration– or worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned as well tough to construct something excellent. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to tools that simply function.