So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Gmail 2-Way Sync.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of streamlining everything under one roof seems like a performance dream. However let me quit you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I want somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it worked great.
I imply, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my company. Sure, it had not been perfect, however it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech stack is brutal. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the mental power it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
At first, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong team of calls. Completely unimportant content. Three days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and reconstructed series, also reached out to sustain. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to risk one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You have to access 3 various arrangement panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to love the adaptability, however whatever about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t visualize what it’s like for a person just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that start piling up. I discovered random $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment fees with Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Gmail 2-Way Sync.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you recognize exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, constructing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get flushed away.
That’s specifically what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– look at the genuine expense.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” actually implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the glowing endorsements out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a compensation. Find people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a platform that really functions the way it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however terrific for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their largest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not act otherwise.
So prior to you study a major migration– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked too hard to build something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that just function.