So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Facebook Lead Forms.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of improving every little thing under one roofing sounds like a productivity desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I indicate, Keap took care of whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my service. Sure, it had not been best, but it was trustworthy. 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 begin eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech pile is brutal. I want I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Restore a dozen automations from square one– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Crumbling
In the beginning, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Totally pointless material. Three days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You need to access 3 different setup panels– spread across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without directions. I wanted to like the adaptability, but whatever regarding the customer experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t picture what it resembles for someone simply beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that begin accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery fees with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled an affordable, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Facebook Lead Forms.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it resembles seeing your hard work get purged down the drain.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the fact no person informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was solid. That deserves more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– look at the actual expense.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” truly implies.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the radiant testimonials out there? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a system that actually functions the means it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job management devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however wonderful for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their largest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t pretend or else.
So prior to you dive into a major movement– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned as well hard to develop something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just work.