So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Lead Generation.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving whatever under one roof sounds like a productivity desire. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I desire a person had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I suggest, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, however it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech pile is ruthless. I wish I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the incorrect team of calls. Totally unnecessary web content. Three days in a row. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, deleted and restored series, also reached out to support. Their response? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Easy job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. You need to gain access to 3 various configuration panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to enjoy the adaptability, but everything regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not envision what it’s like for a person just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that start accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery fees via Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting way much less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Lead Generation.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, developing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work get purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the reality no one informs you when you’re going after the following “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 deserves greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to low prices– consider the actual expense.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” truly means.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the beautiful reviews out there? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact functions the method it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task management tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however great for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their most significant supporter. However it really did not. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned too tough to construct something terrific. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to tools that just function.