So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Plumber Snapshot.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of enhancing every little thing under one roof seems like an efficiency desire. However let me stop you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I wish somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I suggest, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my service. Certain, it had not been best, but it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire technology stack is ruthless. I wish I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological power it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant content. 3 days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered too much to take the chance of an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You have to access three various configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to love the flexibility, yet every little thing about the customer experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can not picture what it’s like for somebody just starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 fees appearing– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution costs with Mailgun, their email company.
So what appeared 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 getting means much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Plumber Snapshot.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, developing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort get flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth greater than any new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– check out the genuine expense.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” truly means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful reviews out there? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact functions the way it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task administration tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet great for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to every little thing. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can not act or else.
So before you dive into a major migration– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too difficult to develop something excellent. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply function.