So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel HIPAA Compliance.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing every little thing under one roofing system seems like an efficiency desire. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I mean, Keap dealt with every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been best, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur 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 begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– disorder.
One early morning I awakened to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Entirely irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation settings, deleted and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to support. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You have to accessibility 3 various arrangement panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to like the versatility, yet everything about the user experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not picture what it’s like for a person simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery fees via Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel HIPAA Compliance.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you understand just how essential deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, building trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work get flushed away.
That’s exactly what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality no person tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for low cost– consider the genuine price.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” really suggests.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the glowing testimonials available? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a payment. Discover individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a system that really functions the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but wonderful for client partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. But it really did not. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or worse, persuade your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned also difficult to build something wonderful. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply work.