So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read how it can change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Facebook Lead Ads.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of enhancing everything under one roof covering seems like a performance dream. Yet let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your preferred set of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked great.
I indicate, Keap managed every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been perfect, however it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains 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 shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire tech stack is harsh. I desire I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a lots automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Falling Apart
At first, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One early morning I awakened to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong group of get in touches with. Totally irrelevant material. 3 days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, even reached out to sustain. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to run the risk of another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to access three different configuration panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to like the versatility, yet every little thing about the individual experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can not imagine what it’s like for someone simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that begin piling up. I saw random $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution fees via Mailgun, their email provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Facebook Lead Ads.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you know exactly how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, constructing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get flushed away.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 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 because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact no person tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– take a look at the real expense.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” truly means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the radiant testimonials available? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a commission. Locate people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a system that actually functions the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific project management devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet wonderful for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not pretend or else.
So prior to you study a full-blown migration– or even worse, convince your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned as well difficult to develop something wonderful. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that just work.