So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Onboarding Call.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of enhancing everything under one roofing sounds like a performance dream. Yet let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I wish someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I indicate, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been ideal, however it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech pile is harsh. I wish I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
At first, it appeared like things were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Totally irrelevant content. Three days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and restored series, also connected to support. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You have to access three different arrangement panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to enjoy the flexibility, yet everything concerning the customer experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not imagine what it resembles for a person just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 fees turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment costs with Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less integrity in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Onboarding Call.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you understand how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, developing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work obtain purged away.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was solid. That deserves greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– each time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– consider the genuine cost.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” truly suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the radiant testimonies out there? They’re from associates trying to score a payment. Find people with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a platform that in fact functions the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but fantastic for customer cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So before you dive into a major movement– or worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well tough to construct something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that simply function.