So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Local Service Ads (LSA).
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of streamlining every little thing under one roof covering seems like an efficiency dream. But let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I wish someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I suggest, Keap took care of everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my service. Sure, it had not been ideal, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, 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 into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire technology pile is ruthless. I wish I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Breaking Down
Initially, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong team of calls. Completely irrelevant material. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and restored sequences, even reached out to support. Their response? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You have to access three different setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to love the adaptability, but whatever regarding the customer experience made me seem like I needed a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not envision what it resembles for somebody just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that begin accumulating. I discovered random $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery fees through Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting means much less dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Local Service Ads (LSA).
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of e-mail marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, building trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work get purged 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, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap had not been showy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– look at the actual cost.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” really means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the radiant endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a payment. Discover people with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a system that really works the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task monitoring devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for client collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant cheerleader. However it didn’t. And I can’t make believe or else.
So prior to you study a full-scale movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also tough to construct something excellent. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that simply work.