So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Google Reviews.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roof covering sounds like an efficiency dream. However let me quit you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I wish somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned fantastic.
I imply, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, yet it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech stack is brutal. I want I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Breaking Down
At first, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of calls. Completely pointless material. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and restored sequences, even reached out to support. Their reaction? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered excessive to risk one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Simple task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You have to access three different configuration panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wished to love the adaptability, but everything concerning the individual experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t imagine what it’s like for a person just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin piling up. I saw random $10 charges popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment fees through Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what appeared like a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Google Reviews.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, constructing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your reputation, your consumer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, however it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for low cost– look at the real price.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “endless” truly means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies out there? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a commission. Find individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a platform that actually functions the way it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project monitoring devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, yet wonderful for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d probably be their greatest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can’t pretend or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale migration– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned as well hard to build something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply function.