So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel For Freight Brokers.
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 roofing system seems like a performance desire. However let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I desire somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I mean, Keap handled whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech pile is brutal. I desire I can inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked 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 directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Breaking Down
At first, it appeared like points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Completely unnecessary content. 3 days in a row. And not the same people either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. You have to accessibility 3 various arrangement panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to like the versatility, but everything concerning the user experience made me seem like I required a designer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can not visualize what it’s like for somebody simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that start accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 fees popping up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment fees with Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what looked like 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 reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Freight Brokers.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, developing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the fact nobody informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap had not been flashy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– check out the actual expense.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually implies.
4. Watch out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonies out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a compensation. Discover people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a platform that in fact functions the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job management devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for client partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their most significant cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, convince your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned also hard to construct something wonderful. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just function.