So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Quick Wins.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, 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 want somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored set of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked great.
I indicate, Keap managed whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my service. Certain, it had not been perfect, yet it was trusted. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I wish I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological power it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect team of calls. Entirely irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, removed and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You have to access 3 different arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to love the flexibility, however whatever concerning the customer experience made me feel like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it’s like for a person simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that begin piling up. I discovered arbitrary $10 costs turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery charges via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Quick Wins.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you understand just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, developing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles seeing your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality no person informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch.
Keap had not been showy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low prices– consider the genuine expense.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” truly indicates.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the glowing reviews out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Find individuals with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a platform that in fact works the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task administration devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not claim otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or worse, convince your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also hard to develop something terrific. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that just function.