So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it can change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel For Tree Service.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of streamlining everything under one roof covering seems like a productivity desire. Yet let me stop you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I wish a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your preferred set of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I indicate, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it had not been perfect, but it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I wish I might tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental energy it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of calls. Entirely irrelevant content. Three days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You have to access 3 different arrangement panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without directions. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, but every little thing about the individual experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t envision what it resembles for someone simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that start piling up. I saw random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges through Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Tree Service.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, developing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort get purged down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was strong. That’s worth more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– consider the real cost.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” truly implies.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a commission. Find people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact works the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific project management tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but terrific for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or worse, encourage your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked also tough to develop something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.