So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Facebook Pixel.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving every little thing under one roof covering seems like a productivity desire. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish someone had gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I imply, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, yet it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I want I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
Initially, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I awakened to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong team of contacts. Completely irrelevant content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and rebuilt series, also reached out to support. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to risk an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Easy task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to accessibility three various setup panels– spread across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I wished to love the adaptability, but everything about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it resembles for somebody just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that begin accumulating. I noticed random $10 charges turning up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment fees through Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting method less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Facebook Pixel.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, constructing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was strong. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– whenever.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low prices– consider the actual cost.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” truly means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the radiant reviews around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a system that really functions the way it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, but fantastic for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not pretend or else.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned as well tough to build something great. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that simply work.