So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Knowledge Base.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roofing seems like a performance dream. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I wish somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I imply, Keap dealt with every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my service. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, but it was trusted. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire technology stack is brutal. I wish I could tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the mental energy it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Falling Apart
Initially, it looked like points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect group of contacts. Completely pointless content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, removed and reconstructed series, even reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered too much to risk one more error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You have to gain access to 3 different configuration panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to like the versatility, yet whatever about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a designer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not envision what it resembles for a person simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that start accumulating. I observed random $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment costs with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Knowledge Base.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of type of email marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, developing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was solid. That deserves greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every single time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– look at the real cost.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” really implies.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements around? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Locate people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a platform that really functions the means it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task monitoring tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however terrific for customer cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant supporter. But it really did not. And I can not claim or else.
So before you study a major migration– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too hard to develop something excellent. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just work.