So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Karan Agarwal.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of enhancing whatever under one roofing system seems like a performance dream. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish a person had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I indicate, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, but it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole technology stack is ruthless. I desire I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of contacts. Completely unimportant material. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their reaction? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to risk an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You have to accessibility three different arrangement panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to love the adaptability, but whatever regarding the individual experience made me seem like I needed a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t envision what it resembles for a person just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that begin piling up. I saw random $10 costs appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment charges with Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Karan Agarwal.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of email marketing, you understand how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like viewing your effort obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what took place 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 name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the truth no person tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for small cost– check out the real cost.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” actually implies.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A lot of the radiant testimonies available? They’re from affiliates trying to score a commission. Find people with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that really works the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job management tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can’t make believe or else.
So prior to you dive into a major movement– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also hard to develop something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to tools that simply work.