So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel For SaaS.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of enhancing whatever under one roofing seems like a productivity dream. Yet let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I desire a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I suggest, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my company. Sure, it had not been perfect, however it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized 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 company’s whole technology pile is ruthless. I wish I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Restore a dozen automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Falling Apart
At first, it appeared like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong team of contacts. Completely unnecessary web content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and reconstructed sequences, also connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to accessibility 3 different setup panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to love the adaptability, yet every little thing concerning the customer experience made me seem like I required a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can’t picture what it’s like for someone simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution charges through Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what resembled a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For SaaS.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you recognize just how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, building trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work obtain purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re searching for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your track record, your client experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the reality no one informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap had not been flashy, however it was strong. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every single time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– look at the real cost.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the beautiful endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a payment. Locate people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a system that actually works the way it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but terrific for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned as well hard to construct something terrific. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply work.