So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Mastery.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing everything under one roofing system sounds like a performance desire. But let me stop you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I desire somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I imply, Keap managed every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been ideal, however it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos 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 whole technology stack is ruthless. I wish I might tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
At first, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of calls. Totally pointless content. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, deleted and rebuilt series, even reached out to support. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the emails just kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered too much to take the chance of one more screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You need to access 3 various arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to like the versatility, but whatever concerning the user experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t picture what it’s like for somebody just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 costs popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery costs with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Mastery.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of kind of e-mail marketing, you know just how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, building count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it’s like viewing your effort get flushed away.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your reputation, your client experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the truth no one tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– check out the genuine expense.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” truly means.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the radiant endorsements available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a commission. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a platform that actually works the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job management devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but fantastic for customer collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can’t claim or else.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or worse, encourage your clients to do the exact 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 also difficult to build something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just work.