So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel For Digital Agency.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing everything under one roof covering seems like a performance dream. Yet let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish a person had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned wonderful.
I indicate, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I wish I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
At first, it looked like things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong team of get in touches with. Completely pointless content. 3 days straight. And not the same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and restored sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their reaction? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails just kept heading 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 take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Easy job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You need to access three different setup panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without directions. I wanted to enjoy the flexibility, however every little thing regarding the user experience made me seem like I needed a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it’s like for someone just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start piling up. I observed arbitrary $10 fees popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment fees via Mailgun, their email company.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Digital Agency.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, constructing depend on, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort obtain flushed away.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to switch.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was solid. That deserves more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– take a look at the genuine price.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” really suggests.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonies out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a compensation. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a system that really works the method it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task administration tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however excellent for customer partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their largest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can’t act or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale migration– or worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also difficult to build something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just function.