So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel PeakEquity Partners.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of enhancing everything under one roofing sounds like a productivity desire. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire a person had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it worked great.
I mean, Keap managed whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been best, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming about a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology pile is brutal. I want I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct 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 close to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of contacts. Completely pointless material. Three days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and reconstructed series, even reached out to sustain. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails just kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to risk another error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me paint you an image. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You have to gain access to 3 various setup panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wished to love the flexibility, yet every little thing about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a programmer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it resembles for somebody simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that begin accumulating. I saw random $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution charges through Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what appeared like an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel PeakEquity Partners.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of email marketing, you recognize exactly how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, constructing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work get flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the fact no person tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was solid. That deserves greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– consider the genuine expense.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” truly means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the glowing testimonials around? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a commission. Locate people with nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that in fact works the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job administration tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but excellent for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. But it really did not. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So before you dive into a major migration– or worse, encourage your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned as well difficult to build something terrific. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just function.