So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Personal Injury Snapshot.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of enhancing whatever under one roofing sounds like a performance desire. However let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I want someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I imply, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole tech pile is harsh. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the mental power it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect team of contacts. Completely unnecessary material. 3 days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and restored sequences, even reached out to support. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You need to accessibility three different setup panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I intended to like the adaptability, yet every little thing about the user experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can’t picture what it’s like for somebody just starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 fees turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution fees with Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Personal Injury Snapshot.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of kind of email marketing, you know how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, constructing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work get flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, yet it was strong. That’s worth greater than any new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– each time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– look at the genuine price.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” actually indicates.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonials available? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact works the means it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job management tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but fantastic for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t act or else.
So prior to you study a major movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked as well difficult to construct something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just work.