So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel QuickBooks Integration.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of streamlining everything under one roof sounds like a productivity dream. Yet let me stop you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I want somebody had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned excellent.
I mean, Keap took care of every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it had not been perfect, but it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire technology pile is harsh. I wish I could inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling 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 All Of It Started Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Totally irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and restored series, also reached out to sustain. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You need to gain access to three different arrangement panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, but whatever concerning the customer experience made me seem like I required a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not picture what it’s like for a person just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that begin piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery fees via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel QuickBooks Integration.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, constructing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain flushed away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap had not been flashy, however it was solid. That deserves greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– look at the actual cost.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” truly suggests.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Locate individuals with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a system that actually works the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project monitoring devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. But it didn’t. And I can’t act or else.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned also hard to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply work.