So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel LevelUp Day.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving everything under one roofing system sounds like a performance desire. Yet let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I want someone had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I mean, Keap handled every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, however it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I want I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental power it drew out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
At first, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect team of contacts. Completely irrelevant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt sequences, also connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You need to gain access to three various setup panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wished to love the flexibility, yet whatever about the user experience made me seem like I needed a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t envision what it resembles for a person just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that begin accumulating. I discovered random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment charges with Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what looked like an inexpensive, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel LevelUp Day.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, constructing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every single time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– consider the actual expense.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” really means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant reviews out there? They’re from associates trying to score a payment. Find individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a platform that in fact functions the way it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task administration devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however excellent for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or worse, convince your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well difficult to construct something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply work.