So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review how it can change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel ManyChat.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving every little thing under one roofing seems like an efficiency desire. But let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this very 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 brand-new? Like when your preferred set of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I imply, Keap managed whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, yet it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech pile is brutal. I wish I could inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong team of calls. Totally irrelevant material. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, removed and restored series, even connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails just kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered too much to run the risk of another error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You have to access 3 various arrangement panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furnishings without directions. I intended to love the adaptability, but whatever about the individual experience made me seem like I needed a programmer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone 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’s like for somebody simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment charges with Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting means much less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel ManyChat.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of type of e-mail marketing, you recognize how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, developing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, but it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every single time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– consider the real price.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonies available? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a system that actually functions the method it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job monitoring tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for customer cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So before you study a major migration– or worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked too tough to construct something wonderful. 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 work.