So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel For Legal Firms.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving everything under one roof seems like an efficiency desire. But let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I desire someone had actually 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 enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it worked great.
I indicate, Keap took care of every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t best, yet it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole tech pile is ruthless. I desire I could tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it looked like points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Completely irrelevant content. Three days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and restored series, even reached out to support. Their response? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. 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 essential. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You need to accessibility 3 different configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to love the adaptability, yet every little thing regarding the customer experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t picture what it’s like for someone just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution charges via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Legal Firms.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you understand exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, developing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles watching your effort get flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your reputation, your client experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the fact no person informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– whenever.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– check out the genuine cost.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” really indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements available? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a payment. Discover individuals with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a system that actually works the method it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task administration tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to every little thing. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. However it didn’t. And I can’t act otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown migration– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned too tough to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that just function.