So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Kickoff Call.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of enhancing everything under one roof covering seems like an efficiency desire. Yet let me quit you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I want someone had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your preferred set of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I mean, Keap dealt with every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, but it was trusted. Like an excellent 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 showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole tech stack is brutal. I wish I could tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological power it sucked out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– disorder.
One morning I woke up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of calls. Totally pointless content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and rebuilt series, even connected to support. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to risk one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You need to gain access to three various setup panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to love the versatility, however everything concerning the individual experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not visualize what it’s like for a person simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that begin accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 fees appearing– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution charges with Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what resembled an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less integrity in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Kickoff Call.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, constructing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get purged away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t succumb to low prices– take a look at the actual expense.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” really indicates.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies around? They’re from associates trying to rack up a commission. Discover people with nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a system that really functions the method it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job administration tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but terrific for customer collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to every little thing. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. But it really did not. And I can’t pretend or else.
So before you study a major movement– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also difficult to develop something excellent. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that simply work.