So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Lifetime Deal.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roof sounds like a productivity dream. However let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish someone had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your favorite set of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it worked wonderful.
I indicate, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my service. Certain, it had not been excellent, however it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I desire I can tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of calls. Entirely unimportant material. Three days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt series, even connected to support. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You need to accessibility 3 various arrangement panels– spread across the interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, yet every little thing concerning the individual 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 developing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it’s like for somebody just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 charges turning up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery fees through Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what looked like a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Lifetime Deal.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you know how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the reality no person tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was strong. That’s worth greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– check out the real cost.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful endorsements out there? They’re from associates trying to rack up a commission. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a platform that actually functions the method it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project administration tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet fantastic for customer partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely 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 greatest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked too difficult to construct something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that simply function.