So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Pay-Per-Lead (PPL).
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying everything under one roof covering sounds like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned great.
I mean, Keap managed every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my service. Certain, it had not been best, however it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire tech pile 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 really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the mental energy it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong team of contacts. Entirely irrelevant material. Three days straight. And not the very same people either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and reconstructed series, also connected to sustain. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails just maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to risk another error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to accessibility 3 different setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without directions. I wanted to like the adaptability, however whatever concerning the individual experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it’s like for somebody simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that start accumulating. I observed random $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery charges via Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Pay-Per-Lead (PPL).
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, developing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your track record, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to switch over.
Keap had not been fancy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every single time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– take a look at the actual cost.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” really indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the radiant reviews around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a compensation. Locate people with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a platform that actually works the method it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project management devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet fantastic for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d probably be their greatest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or worse, encourage your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well difficult to construct something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that simply function.