So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel For Fitness Trainers.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing everything under one roofing seems like a performance desire. However let me quit you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I wish somebody had grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored set of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I mean, Keap took care of every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t best, however it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech stack is harsh. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a lots automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of contacts. Entirely pointless material. 3 days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and rebuilt series, even connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You have to gain access to 3 different configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to like the versatility, yet whatever concerning the individual experience made me feel like I needed a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t envision what it’s like for a person just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start accumulating. I discovered random $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery costs through Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what resembled 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 means less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Fitness Trainers.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you know exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, building trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it’s like viewing your hard work obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– each time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low cost– consider the real price.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies around? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a commission. Find people with nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that really works the means it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job management tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet great for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So before you study a major movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned also difficult to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that just work.