So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Payment Gateways.
I get it. The promise 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 seems like an efficiency dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I want somebody had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I imply, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it had not been excellent, yet it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole tech stack is brutal. I want I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental energy it sucked out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it looked like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of calls. Completely unimportant content. Three days straight. And not the same people either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to support. Their response? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to risk one more screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You have to gain access to three different setup panels– spread throughout the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to enjoy the flexibility, however whatever regarding the customer experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution charges with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what appeared like an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Payment Gateways.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you recognize just how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, developing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get purged away.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked 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 given that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your reputation, your client experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every single time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for low prices– consider the genuine cost.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” really implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the glowing testimonials available? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
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 in fact functions the means it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project management tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but wonderful for customer partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their largest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not pretend or else.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked also hard to build something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that just work.