So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel LinkedIn Integration.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving everything under one roof covering seems like a productivity desire. However let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I want a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored set of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked great.
I mean, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire tech pile is brutal. I desire I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it drew out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of calls. Totally unnecessary web content. 3 days in a row. And not the same individuals either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and restored sequences, even connected to support. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. You have to gain access to three different setup panels– spread throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without directions. I wanted to love the versatility, however every little thing about the individual experience made me feel like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it resembles for somebody just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 fees turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution charges through Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what resembled a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less integrity in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel LinkedIn Integration.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of type of e-mail marketing, you understand just how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, developing trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your client experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap had not been fancy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every single time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– consider the real price.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” truly suggests.
4. Watch out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the radiant endorsements available? They’re from affiliates trying to score a payment. Find individuals with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that in fact functions the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job administration tools 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 client collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their most significant cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So prior to you study a major movement– or worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked too hard to construct something great. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that simply function.