So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel For Advertising Agencies.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying everything under one roof sounds like a performance dream. But let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I imply, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been excellent, yet it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole technology stack is ruthless. I desire I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental power it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
Initially, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Totally unnecessary material. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, deleted and restored series, also reached out to support. Their feedback? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails just kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered too much to risk another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to gain access to three different configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wished to enjoy the flexibility, yet every little thing about the individual experience made me feel like I needed a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it resembles for a person simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that begin piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution charges via Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means much less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Advertising Agencies.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you understand just how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, constructing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like viewing your hard work obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your track record, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every single time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– consider the genuine cost.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” actually implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Find people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a system that really works the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task management devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but terrific for client partnership 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 whatever. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their largest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a major movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too tough to construct something wonderful. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to tools that just work.