So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Make.com.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of improving every little thing under one roof seems like an efficiency desire. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I wish someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your preferred set of footwear instantly 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 fantastic.
I indicate, Keap handled whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire technology stack is ruthless. I wish I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- 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 energy it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the incorrect group of contacts. Entirely unimportant content. Three days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, even connected to support. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You have to access three different setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to like the flexibility, but every little thing about the user experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it resembles for a person simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery charges through Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Make.com.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing count on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the fact no one informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to change.
Keap had not been showy, but it was strong. That deserves more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– look at the real cost.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” truly suggests.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the beautiful reviews out there? They’re from associates trying to rack up a compensation. Find individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact works the method it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task monitoring tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you study a major migration– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned as well difficult to build something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that simply function.