So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Newsletter.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of improving every little thing under one roof covering seems like a performance desire. But let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I want somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored set of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I mean, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my service. Sure, it had not been excellent, however it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology pile is ruthless. I want I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong team of contacts. Entirely unnecessary material. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You need to accessibility three various configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to love the flexibility, yet everything concerning the customer experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it resembles for somebody just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that begin piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution costs through Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting way less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Newsletter.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any sort of email marketing, you know exactly how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, building trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely 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 roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the truth no one informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was strong. That deserves greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– consider the real expense.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” truly suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a commission. Locate individuals with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a platform that actually functions the means it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific project management devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for customer partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their largest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t make believe or else.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too difficult to develop something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to tools that simply function.