So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Kollab App.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying everything under one roof seems like a productivity desire. Yet let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I want a person had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned excellent.
I mean, Keap handled whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my company. Certain, it had not been excellent, but it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire technology stack is brutal. I wish I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
Initially, it appeared like things were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of contacts. Entirely unnecessary content. Three days straight. And not the very same individuals either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and rebuilt series, even connected to support. Their action? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered excessive to risk one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. You have to access three various configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to like the versatility, however whatever about the user experience made me seem like I needed a designer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it resembles for a person just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that begin piling up. I discovered random $10 costs popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment costs through Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less reliability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Kollab App.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of type of email marketing, you understand how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, developing trust, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to switch over.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every single time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– consider the genuine cost.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” really means.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the beautiful reviews out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a system that really functions the means it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task monitoring tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however terrific for customer collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant supporter. However it didn’t. And I can’t pretend or else.
So prior to you study a full-blown movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too difficult to develop something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that simply work.