So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Membership Site.
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 simplifying everything under one roofing seems like an efficiency desire. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I want someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 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 headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I suggest, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it had not been perfect, however it was trusted. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole tech pile is harsh. I want I can tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
Initially, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– disorder.
One early morning I awakened to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of calls. Completely unnecessary web content. Three days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, deleted and restored series, also reached out to sustain. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You need to access three various configuration panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to enjoy the flexibility, however whatever concerning the user experience made me feel like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can not envision what it resembles for a person just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 charges turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution charges via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less integrity in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Membership Site.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of kind of email marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, building trust, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your track record, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap had not been showy, but it was strong. That’s worth greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– whenever.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for small cost– look at the actual cost.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” truly indicates.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the radiant endorsements available? They’re from affiliates trying to score a payment. Locate people with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a platform that really works the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job monitoring tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet excellent for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So before you dive into a full-blown migration– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked as well difficult to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just work.