So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it could change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Pricing.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of improving everything under one roofing seems like an efficiency desire. However let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I desire a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored set of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked fantastic.
I mean, Keap took care of everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it had not been ideal, yet it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology pile is brutal. I wish I might tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological energy it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
At first, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent to the incorrect team of contacts. Completely unimportant material. 3 days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and reconstructed sequences, even connected to support. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to risk another error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You need to gain access to 3 different arrangement panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to like the adaptability, but whatever concerning the individual experience made me feel like I needed a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for 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 do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that start accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 fees popping up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery fees through Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Pricing.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you know how essential deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, building trust fund, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap had not been flashy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– look at the real expense.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “endless” truly suggests.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A lot of the glowing testimonies out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a compensation. Find individuals with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact functions the method it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task management tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however terrific for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant supporter. But it really did not. And I can not claim or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the tough concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked as well tough to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.