So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the glowing reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Inbound Webhook.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of streamlining every little thing under one roof covering seems like an efficiency dream. But let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored set of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I imply, Keap managed whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been excellent, yet it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire technology pile is harsh. I desire I might inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Restore a lots automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong team of calls. Completely irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of one more error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. You have to accessibility three various arrangement panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to love the flexibility, yet everything regarding the individual experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it’s like for somebody just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that begin piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment costs through Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting method less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Inbound Webhook.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of email marketing, you recognize just how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, developing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work obtain purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your track record, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater 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 Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– check out the actual price.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “endless” truly implies.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the glowing testimonials available? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a compensation. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact functions the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job monitoring tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet wonderful for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can not pretend or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked too difficult to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that just work.