So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Kelsi Navalta.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of enhancing everything under one roofing system seems like a productivity dream. Yet let me stop you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I want a person had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your favored set of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I mean, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t excellent, however it was trustworthy. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole technology stack is harsh. I wish I can tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Crumbling
At first, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Entirely unimportant web content. Three days straight. And not the same people either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, also connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to access three various arrangement panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without directions. I intended to like the versatility, however every little thing about the individual experience made me feel like I required a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it’s like for a person just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery costs through Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Kelsi Navalta.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of email marketing, you understand how essential deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, developing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it’s like watching your hard work get flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked 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 upon third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That’s worth more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– each time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– look at the genuine cost.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” truly means.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that actually functions the means it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task management tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, but great for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not make believe or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked also difficult to develop something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just work.