So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel For HVAC.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of streamlining every little thing under one roof covering seems like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish someone had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned fantastic.
I imply, Keap handled whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my business. Sure, it had not been excellent, but it was trustworthy. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole tech pile is harsh. I wish I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Breaking Down
At first, it resembled things were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of contacts. Entirely unimportant content. Three days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and restored sequences, even reached out to support. Their response? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of another error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Easy job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You have to accessibility 3 various configuration panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to love the flexibility, but everything regarding the user experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not visualize what it’s like for a person simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that begin accumulating. I noticed random $10 costs popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery costs via Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting way less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For HVAC.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of kind of email marketing, you know how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, building trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re searching for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the fact no one informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was strong. That deserves more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– look at the actual expense.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” truly means.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A lot of the radiant endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Find people with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a platform that actually functions the method it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project management tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet great for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their largest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown movement– or worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the hard concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked as well hard to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply function.