So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Facebook Shop.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of streamlining whatever under one roof covering seems like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I wish a person had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked great.
I imply, Keap took care of everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, however it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. 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 buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole technology stack is harsh. I want I could tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project status, 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 fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Breaking Down
Initially, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect group of contacts. Totally unnecessary content. Three days straight. And not the same people either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and restored sequences, also reached out to support. Their feedback? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Basic task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You have to access three different configuration panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to like the adaptability, but whatever regarding the customer experience made me seem like I needed a programmer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t visualize what it resembles for a person just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery charges through Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what appeared like a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method much less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Facebook Shop.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any sort of email marketing, you know exactly how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, constructing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like viewing your effort get purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your track record, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– check out the genuine expense.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” actually indicates.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies around? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a system that in fact functions the means it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job administration devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however great for client partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest cheerleader. However it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you study a major movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked as well hard to develop something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with tools that simply function.