So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel House Cleaning Playbook.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving every little thing under one roof sounds like a productivity dream. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I desire a person had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned great.
I mean, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been best, however it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire technology stack is harsh. I desire I could tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological power it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Totally irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and restored series, even reached out to support. Their feedback? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Easy job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You need to access 3 different setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to love the flexibility, yet everything concerning the individual experience made me seem like I required a programmer sitting alongside 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 not imagine what it’s like for somebody just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that begin piling up. I saw random $10 charges popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery costs via Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what appeared like an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting means less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel House Cleaning Playbook.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you know how essential deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, developing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort obtain purged away.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap had not been showy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for low prices– consider the real expense.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the glowing testimonies available? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a payment. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
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 trying to find a system that actually works the method it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project monitoring devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet wonderful for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not claim otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the tough concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked too difficult to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply function.