So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the glowing reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel HubSpot Integration.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of improving every little thing under one roofing sounds like a productivity desire. But let me stop you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident 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 frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I mean, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my service. Sure, it had not been ideal, yet it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I desire I can tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental power it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Falling Apart
At first, it resembled things were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Totally pointless material. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and restored sequences, even connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the emails just kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to access three various setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to like the flexibility, but everything about the individual experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can’t envision what it’s like for someone simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin accumulating. I noticed random $10 costs popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel HubSpot Integration.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of type of e-mail marketing, you know just how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, developing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of 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 track record, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the fact no person informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap had not been fancy, however it was solid. That deserves more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every single time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– take a look at the genuine price.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” truly suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Locate people with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a system that actually functions the way it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task monitoring devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however terrific for customer partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too hard to develop something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.