So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Privacy Policy.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of streamlining every little thing under one roofing sounds like an efficiency dream. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I wish somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident starts 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 frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned wonderful.
I mean, Keap took care of whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it had not been excellent, yet it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire tech pile is brutal. I want I might tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
At first, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong team of calls. Totally irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and reconstructed series, even connected to sustain. Their response? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Basic task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You need to gain access to three different setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, however every little thing regarding the user experience made me feel like I needed a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it’s like for somebody simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that begin piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 costs turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment fees with Mailgun, their email company.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means less reliability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Privacy Policy.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of email marketing, you recognize exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, constructing trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work get purged away.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap had not been showy, but it was strong. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every single time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for low cost– check out the genuine price.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” actually indicates.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the beautiful testimonials out there? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Locate people with nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a system that actually works the means it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job management tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however fantastic for client partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their largest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can’t act or else.
So prior to you study a major movement– or worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also tough to build something excellent. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that simply work.