So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Number of Users.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of simplifying whatever under one roof seems like a productivity desire. But let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I want somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned excellent.
I indicate, Keap took care of whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my organization. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, but it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech pile is ruthless. I want I can tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
At first, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong team of get in touches with. Entirely unnecessary content. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation setups, erased and restored sequences, also connected to support. Their reaction? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of another error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You need to accessibility three different setup panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without directions. I wanted to like the adaptability, but whatever concerning the user experience made me feel like I required a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it resembles for somebody just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that start piling up. I noticed random $10 fees turning up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment fees through Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Number of Users.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, developing trust fund, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it resembles seeing your effort obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was strong. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– check out the genuine price.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” actually implies.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the beautiful endorsements out there? They’re from associates trying to score a payment. Discover individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that really works the way it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job management tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but wonderful for customer collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown migration– or worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked too tough to build something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.