So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel For Photography.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of improving every little thing under one roofing system sounds like a productivity dream. Yet let me stop you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I desire someone had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I mean, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it had not been ideal, however it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I want I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Totally unnecessary web content. Three days straight. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and restored sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their response? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You have to gain access to three different configuration panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to like the adaptability, but every little thing concerning the customer experience made me seem like I needed a programmer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t visualize what it’s like for someone simply getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that start accumulating. I discovered random $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution charges through Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what resembled 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 means much less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Photography.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you know exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, building trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated 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 tools (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your customer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to change.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was strong. That’s worth more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every single time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for low prices– look at the real cost.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” really implies.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the radiant reviews out there? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a compensation. Find people with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that really functions the means it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task monitoring tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet excellent for customer cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d probably be their most significant supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-blown migration– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well hard to develop something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just work.