So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Outbound Calls.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving every little thing under one roofing system sounds like an efficiency dream. However let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I want a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored set of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked fantastic.
I mean, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it had not been excellent, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech stack is harsh. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Falling Apart
Initially, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of contacts. Totally pointless material. 3 days straight. And not the same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, even reached out to support. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Simple task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You have to gain access to three different configuration panels– scattered across the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to love the flexibility, yet every little thing about the individual experience made me seem like I required a designer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can’t envision what it’s like for a person just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that begin accumulating. I saw random $10 charges turning up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment fees with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Outbound Calls.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you understand how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, developing trust, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles watching your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every single time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– look at the genuine price.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” really means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements around? They’re from associates trying to rack up a commission. Discover people with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
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 platform that really works the means it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project administration tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but great for client partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. But it really did not. And I can’t act or else.
So prior to you dive into a major migration– or worse, encourage your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked too difficult to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that simply work.