So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Point-of-Sale.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roofing sounds like a performance dream. However let me stop you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I desire a person had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I mean, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech stack is brutal. I wish I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Breaking Down
Initially, it looked like points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong group of calls. Completely pointless content. 3 days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and reconstructed sequences, even connected to support. Their feedback? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You need to access 3 various configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to like the adaptability, but every little thing concerning the user experience made me seem like I needed a programmer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone 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’s like for a person simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that begin accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution costs through Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what appeared like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting way less dependability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Point-of-Sale.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of email marketing, you know just how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, developing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get purged away.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact nobody informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– check out the actual cost.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” really means.
4. Watch out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the glowing endorsements available? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a platform that really works the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task monitoring devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, yet great for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d probably be their most significant cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can’t act otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too hard to construct 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.