So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Loyalty Program.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of streamlining everything under one roofing seems like a productivity dream. But let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I wish somebody had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred set of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I suggest, Keap managed every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t ideal, but it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. 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 buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole tech pile is harsh. I desire I can tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental power it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
Initially, it looked like points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Completely pointless content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered too much to take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Easy task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You have to access 3 various arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to like the versatility, but whatever regarding the individual experience made me seem like I required a designer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not envision what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that start piling up. I discovered random $10 charges popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery charges via Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Loyalty Program.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you recognize exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, developing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work get purged away.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the truth no one informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good reason to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– each time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– consider the real expense.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” really means.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the radiant testimonials available? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
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 seeking a system that really functions the means it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job monitoring tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however excellent for customer collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not act or else.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned also difficult to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that just work.