So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the glowing evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel IDX Integration.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roof sounds like a performance dream. Yet let me stop you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I wish a person had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned excellent.
I indicate, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been ideal, yet it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy 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 know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology stack is brutal. I wish I could tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Entirely unimportant material. 3 days in a row. And not the same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, removed and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their response? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered too much to run the risk of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You have to accessibility 3 various setup panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to love the versatility, however every little thing regarding the customer experience made me seem like I needed a programmer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it’s like for somebody simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that start accumulating. I saw random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting means less reliability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel IDX Integration.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of kind of email marketing, you recognize just how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, developing trust fund, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it’s like watching 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 hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t showy, yet it was strong. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– check out the actual price.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” truly indicates.
4. Watch out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing reviews available? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Locate people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact functions the way it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job monitoring tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however excellent for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. However it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too difficult to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just function.