So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Family Lawyer Playbook.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roof covering seems like a productivity desire. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I want someone had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned terrific.
I indicate, Keap handled whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my organization. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, but it was reputable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole technology stack is harsh. I want I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
At first, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Totally unimportant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, also reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails just maintained going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you an image. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You need to gain access to 3 various arrangement panels– spread across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to love the versatility, yet every little thing regarding the individual experience made me seem like I required a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t envision what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that start piling up. I saw random $10 charges turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment costs via Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what looked like an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Family Lawyer Playbook.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you recognize how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every single time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t succumb to low prices– consider the real cost.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” truly implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the glowing endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a payment. Discover people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a system that in fact functions the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job administration devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but terrific for customer collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest supporter. But it really did not. And I can not make believe or else.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned as well tough to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that simply work.