So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Monthly Town Hall.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of streamlining whatever under one roof covering seems like a productivity desire. Yet let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish somebody had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored set of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I imply, Keap took care of everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my business. Certain, it had not been ideal, yet it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology pile is ruthless. I want I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for also long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
At first, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Completely pointless content. Three days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, deleted and restored sequences, even connected to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of another error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you an image. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You need to gain access to 3 different configuration panels– spread across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to like the versatility, yet whatever about the user experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not envision what it resembles for someone just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that begin accumulating. I noticed random $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment costs with Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less dependability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Monthly Town Hall.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, building trust fund, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort obtain purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your track record, your client experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact no person informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– check out the actual cost.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” truly suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonies available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a commission. Discover people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that really functions the method it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project administration devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however wonderful for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can’t act otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-blown migration– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also difficult to develop something great. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply function.