So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Google Meet.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying every little thing under one roof seems like a productivity desire. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I want someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I suggest, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my organization. Sure, it wasn’t best, but it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole tech stack is ruthless. I desire I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Falling Apart
At first, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of contacts. Entirely pointless content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and restored series, even reached out to support. Their response? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You need to access three various arrangement panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to like the versatility, however every little thing regarding the user experience made me seem like I needed a programmer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t envision what it’s like for somebody just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start piling up. I saw random $10 charges appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Google Meet.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of email marketing, you recognize just how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, building trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like viewing your hard work get flushed away.
That’s exactly what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the fact no person informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was solid. That’s worth more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– each time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for low prices– check out the real cost.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” really means.
4. Look out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the radiant testimonials around? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a system that in fact functions the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project management devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however terrific for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their largest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a major movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned also hard to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to tools that simply work.