So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review just how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Proposals.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying whatever under one roofing system seems like a performance desire. However let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I desire somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I suggest, Keap dealt with whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my service. Sure, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology stack is brutal. I wish I can tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological energy it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong team of get in touches with. Entirely unimportant content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and rebuilt series, also connected to support. Their feedback? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered too much to take the chance of one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Easy job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. You need to access three different setup panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to love the versatility, but every little thing about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t envision what it resembles for a person just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin piling up. I observed arbitrary $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery charges through Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting method less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Proposals.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you know just how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, developing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work obtain flushed away.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the reality no one tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great reason to switch over.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was strong. That deserves greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– every single time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– check out the real cost.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing reviews around? They’re from affiliates trying to score a compensation. Locate people with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a platform that really works the method it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task management devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however terrific for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. 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 prior to you dive into a full-scale migration– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned too difficult to construct something excellent. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that simply work.