So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel For B2B.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of streamlining everything under one roofing system seems like a productivity desire. However let me quit you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I desire a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it worked wonderful.
I imply, Keap handled everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, but it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire tech pile is brutal. I wish I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Entirely unnecessary web content. 3 days straight. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and rebuilt sequences, even connected to sustain. Their action? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered too much to run the risk of another error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You need to accessibility three various arrangement panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, yet everything regarding the user experience made me seem like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not picture what it resembles for a person just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that begin piling up. I discovered random $10 costs appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution charges with Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what appeared like an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For B2B.
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 just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, building trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort get flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– consider the real cost.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “endless” really suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the radiant reviews available? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a commission. Discover individuals with nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact functions the method it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however excellent for client collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also hard to construct something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that simply function.