So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Google Sheets.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of simplifying everything under one roof covering seems like an efficiency desire. Yet let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I want somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it worked great.
I imply, Keap dealt with everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been perfect, however it was trusted. Like a good 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 eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole tech pile is harsh. I want I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Breaking Down
At first, it resembled things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Entirely pointless web content. 3 days in a row. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and restored series, even reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to run the risk of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You need to gain access to 3 different setup panels– spread across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without instructions. I wished to like the flexibility, yet whatever concerning the individual experience made me feel like I required a designer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not picture what it’s like for a person just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that begin piling up. I observed random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment costs via Mailgun, their email provider.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Google Sheets.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you know just how important deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, constructing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact no one informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– each time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for low cost– look at the genuine price.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” truly means.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the radiant testimonies available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Locate people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that really functions the means it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job management tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however great for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. But it really did not. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So prior to you study a major migration– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned too difficult to develop something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that just work.