So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Inventory Management.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of enhancing whatever under one roof covering sounds like a performance desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, 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 brand-new? Like when your favorite set of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I indicate, Keap handled whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it had not been best, yet it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole technology pile is brutal. I desire I could tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Falling Apart
At first, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong team of contacts. Totally unnecessary web content. Three days in a row. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, even reached out to support. Their response? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to risk an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You need to access 3 various configuration panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to like the versatility, but every little thing regarding the customer experience made me seem like I needed a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it resembles for somebody simply getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that start piling up. I saw random $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery fees through Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Inventory Management.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of type of email marketing, you know how important deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, developing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your reputation, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap had not been showy, but it was solid. That deserves greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– check out the real expense.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” really implies.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful endorsements available? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a system that in fact functions the method it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project administration devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can not act or else.
So before you dive into a major movement– or worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the hard concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also difficult to construct something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that just function.