So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel For Franchising.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving every little thing under one roofing system sounds like a productivity desire. Yet let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I mean, Keap managed every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it had not been best, yet it was trusted. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire tech pile is brutal. I wish I might tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological power it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
Initially, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Completely unnecessary content. 3 days straight. And not the same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and rebuilt sequences, also connected to support. Their reaction? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of one more error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You need to access 3 different configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to like the versatility, however whatever about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not envision what it’s like for a person simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that begin accumulating. I observed random $10 fees turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery fees via Mailgun, their email provider.
So what looked like a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Franchising.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you understand exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, constructing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it’s like viewing your hard work obtain purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact no person tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– consider the actual expense.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually indicates.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A lot of the radiant testimonies around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Find people with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that actually functions the method it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job monitoring devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however terrific for customer partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their greatest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t claim or else.
So prior to you study a major movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned as well tough to construct something great. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that just work.