So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Order Bump.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of enhancing whatever under one roofing system seems like a productivity dream. However let me quit you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I desire somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned wonderful.
I indicate, Keap handled whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t best, but it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech stack is brutal. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect team of contacts. Totally irrelevant material. Three days straight. And not the very same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and rebuilt series, even connected to support. Their response? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered too much to risk one more screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, 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 rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You have to gain access to three different arrangement panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to like the adaptability, but whatever about the customer experience made me seem like I needed a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it’s like for a person just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that begin accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 fees popping up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery costs via Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting means much less dependability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Order Bump.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of e-mail marketing, you understand how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, developing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles seeing your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the reality no one tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– take a look at the actual price.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “endless” really suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the glowing testimonies available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a compensation. Discover people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a system that actually functions the means it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task administration devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but great for customer collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest supporter. However it really did not. And I can’t claim or else.
So before you study a major movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the tough concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned also difficult to construct something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply function.