So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it could change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Plumbing Playbook.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of streamlining everything under one roofing sounds like a productivity desire. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I desire someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I mean, Keap took care of everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Sure, it had not been perfect, however it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology pile is brutal. I wish I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for too long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
In the beginning, it resembled things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Entirely unimportant web content. Three days in a row. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation setups, erased and reconstructed sequences, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You need to gain access to three various arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to like the versatility, yet everything about the user experience made me feel like I required a programmer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it resembles for a person just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that start accumulating. I saw random $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution charges with Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what looked like a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Plumbing Playbook.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, developing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every single time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– take a look at the real cost.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” truly means.
4. Watch out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing testimonials available? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Find people with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that really functions the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task management tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet fantastic for customer partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their largest supporter. However it really did not. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also difficult to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that just work.