So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Outage.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving whatever under one roofing sounds like a performance dream. But let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I want a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your favored pair of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I suggest, Keap took care of whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Sure, it had not been best, yet it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech pile is brutal. I desire I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it looked like points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong group of get in touches with. Totally unnecessary content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and restored sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You have to gain access to 3 different setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to enjoy the versatility, yet everything regarding the individual experience made me feel like I required a programmer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can’t picture what it’s like for someone just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that begin piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution fees via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared like an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Outage.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of email marketing, you understand how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, developing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work get flushed down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re searching for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– take a look at the genuine expense.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “endless” actually suggests.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the beautiful testimonials around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Discover people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a system that really functions the method it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project management tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their largest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t act otherwise.
So before you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked too difficult to develop something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that just work.