So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel For Cleaning Company.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying everything under one roof covering sounds like a productivity dream. Yet let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I indicate, Keap handled whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been perfect, yet it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech pile is ruthless. I wish I might tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong group of calls. Totally unimportant web content. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, even connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the emails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered way too much to risk an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. You have to access three different setup panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to enjoy the flexibility, however every little thing regarding the customer experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t visualize what it’s like for a person simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that begin piling up. I observed arbitrary $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution costs through Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Cleaning Company.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you understand how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, constructing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like viewing your effort get purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your online reputation, your client experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap had not been showy, but it was strong. That’s worth greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– look at the genuine expense.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” really indicates.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the glowing testimonies out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a commission. Find individuals with nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that really works the means it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however wonderful for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can not claim otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned also tough to build something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just function.