So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Invoicing.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving whatever under one roof seems like a performance dream. Yet let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I desire someone had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked excellent.
I imply, Keap managed every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my company. Sure, it had not been ideal, yet it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire technology pile is brutal. I desire I can inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Entirely pointless web content. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, also connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered excessive to risk another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Simple task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You need to gain access to 3 different setup panels– spread across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to enjoy the flexibility, however everything regarding the user experience made me seem like I needed a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it’s like for somebody just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that begin accumulating. I observed random $10 charges appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery charges with Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what looked like an inexpensive, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting means less dependability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Invoicing.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you recognize just how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, building trust, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it resembles seeing your hard work obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the truth no one informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, yet it was solid. That deserves greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– each time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– check out the actual cost.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually means.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the radiant testimonials available? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Discover people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that actually works the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project management tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however excellent for customer partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can not make believe or else.
So prior to you study a full-blown movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned also hard to build something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that just work.