So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it could change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel PayLater.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing every little thing under one roofing sounds like an efficiency desire. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I want somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored set of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I indicate, Keap managed whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been perfect, but it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole technology pile is ruthless. I wish I could inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological 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 right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of contacts. Totally pointless material. 3 days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and restored sequences, even connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered way too much to risk an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
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 do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You need to access 3 various arrangement panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to like the versatility, but whatever about the individual experience made me seem like I required a designer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t envision what it’s like for somebody simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start piling up. I observed random $10 costs appearing– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment charges with Mailgun, their email company.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel PayLater.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you understand how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, constructing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work obtain purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your online reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch over.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was solid. That deserves greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– consider the real price.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” truly indicates.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews available? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Discover individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a system that really works the method it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job administration tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet fantastic for customer partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So prior to you study a major movement– or worse, persuade your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also tough to develop something excellent. 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 function.