So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel For Mortgage Lenders.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying every little thing under one roofing system seems like a performance dream. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I wish somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked excellent.
I imply, Keap handled whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my organization. Sure, it wasn’t best, however it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire tech stack is harsh. I desire I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of contacts. Entirely pointless web content. 3 days straight. And not the same people either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and restored sequences, also reached out to support. Their feedback? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You need to accessibility 3 various setup panels– spread throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I intended to like the versatility, yet everything concerning the user experience made me seem like I required a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it’s like for someone simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that start piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery charges via Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what appeared like an inexpensive, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting way much less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Mortgage Lenders.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of email marketing, you know exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work get purged away.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos 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 could not justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– take a look at the real expense.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” actually indicates.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonies available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Locate individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a platform that actually works the way it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task management devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to every little thing. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their largest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So prior to you study a major movement– or worse, convince your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked too difficult to construct something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just work.