So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Help Docs.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving everything under one roof seems like an efficiency desire. But let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I wish somebody had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I imply, 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 perfect, however it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire technology pile is brutal. I desire I might tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
At first, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Entirely pointless web content. 3 days in a row. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You have to access 3 various setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wished to love the flexibility, but whatever concerning the user experience made me feel like I needed a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it resembles for somebody just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that begin piling up. I noticed random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what resembled an affordable, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Help Docs.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of e-mail marketing, you know just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, developing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work get purged away.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the fact no one tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was strong. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– check out the real expense.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually indicates.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the beautiful testimonies around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that actually works the method it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job administration tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however terrific for customer collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. But it really did not. And I can not act or else.
So before you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned as well difficult to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that simply work.