So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Paulson Thomas.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of simplifying everything under one roofing sounds like an efficiency desire. However let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish someone had gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I suggest, Keap took care of every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, yet it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire technology pile is ruthless. I wish I might inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Restore a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong group of contacts. Totally pointless material. Three days straight. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, even connected to sustain. Their action? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails just kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to accessibility three different arrangement panels– spread across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to love the versatility, however everything concerning the customer experience made me seem like I required a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not envision what it’s like for a person simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that begin piling up. I saw random $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Paulson Thomas.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you understand exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, constructing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like watching your effort obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That’s worth more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– look at the actual cost.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” actually implies.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A lot of the beautiful testimonials out there? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Discover people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a platform that really works the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task administration tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however terrific for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest supporter. However it really did not. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned as well hard to construct something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just work.