So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel For Salons.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of streamlining everything under one roofing sounds like an efficiency desire. However let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I imply, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my service. Sure, it had not been excellent, yet it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole tech stack is harsh. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the mental power it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
At first, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– disorder.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong team of contacts. Totally unimportant content. 3 days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and restored series, also connected to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You have to access 3 different setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to enjoy the versatility, but whatever regarding the customer experience made me feel like I required a designer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not visualize what it’s like for somebody just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that begin piling up. I observed arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment fees through Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what appeared like a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting method less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Salons.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of type of e-mail marketing, you understand how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing trust, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s precisely what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your online reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, yet it was solid. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– whenever.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– take a look at the actual cost.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” truly suggests.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a commission. Locate individuals with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a platform that actually functions the way it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project monitoring devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however excellent for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can not act otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or worse, convince your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned as well difficult to build something great. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that simply work.