So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Namecheap.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of enhancing whatever under one roofing sounds like an efficiency desire. Yet let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I desire someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned fantastic.
I suggest, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, but it was trustworthy. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I desire I might inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from square one– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Crumbling
In the beginning, it appeared like points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Entirely pointless material. 3 days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, deleted and reconstructed series, also connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to risk another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You have to accessibility 3 different arrangement panels– spread across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to love the versatility, however everything about the customer experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it’s like for someone just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 costs appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery costs with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Namecheap.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of email marketing, you know how essential deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, building depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for low cost– consider the actual expense.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” truly means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the beautiful endorsements available? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a commission. Find individuals with nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a platform that really functions the way it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job management tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however wonderful for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed 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 flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned also difficult to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.