So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel on iPad.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of streamlining whatever under one roofing system sounds like a productivity dream. However let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I want a person had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored pair of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked excellent.
I mean, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my service. Sure, it wasn’t excellent, however it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology pile is harsh. I desire I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it looked like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong team of calls. Totally unnecessary web content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt series, even reached out to sustain. Their response? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You need to gain access to three various setup panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to like the adaptability, however whatever regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can’t envision what it’s like for a person just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 costs popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery costs via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel on iPad.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of email marketing, you recognize just how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, building trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get purged away.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– each time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for small cost– check out the genuine price.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” really means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Locate individuals with nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really 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 system that actually functions the way it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job management tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but fantastic for customer partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can not act otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale migration– or worse, convince your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked as well tough to develop something great. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just work.