So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel For Ad Agencies.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying everything under one roofing system sounds like an efficiency desire. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I wish somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I imply, Keap took care of everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my service. Sure, it had not been ideal, yet it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire tech pile is brutal. I wish I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological power it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for as well long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
At first, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, erased and reconstructed series, also reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to risk one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Simple task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You need to access 3 different setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to enjoy the flexibility, but everything concerning the individual experience made me seem like I required a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it resembles for somebody just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution charges through Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting way less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Ad Agencies.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of e-mail marketing, you understand how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, building trust, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it resembles watching your effort get flushed away.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– check out the genuine cost.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” truly implies.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing reviews available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that actually works the method it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job administration devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet excellent for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can’t act or else.
So before you study a major migration– or worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also tough to construct something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that simply work.