So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel For Electricians.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of streamlining everything under one roof sounds like a performance desire. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I desire somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I imply, Keap managed every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I want I could inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of contacts. Totally pointless content. Three days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of one more error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You need to access three different configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to like the versatility, yet everything about the individual experience made me seem like I needed a programmer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it resembles for someone just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 charges turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution fees via Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what looked like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting means much less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Electricians.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you understand just how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, developing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it resembles watching your hard work obtain purged away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the reality no one tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for low cost– look at the genuine expense.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” truly means.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A lot of the radiant testimonials available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Find people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a system that in fact works the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task administration devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for client collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can not act or else.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked as well hard to construct something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply function.