So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Quotes.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of streamlining whatever under one roofing system sounds like a performance desire. But let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire someone had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this 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 get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked fantastic.
I indicate, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t best, but it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire technology stack is harsh. I desire I could tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental power it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong team of get in touches with. Entirely irrelevant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and reconstructed sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered too much to take the chance of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You need to gain access to 3 different configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to enjoy the adaptability, however everything regarding the customer experience made me feel like I required a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it’s like for a person simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that begin piling up. I observed random $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution charges through Mailgun, their email company.
So what resembled 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 much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Quotes.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you recognize exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, developing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work obtain flushed away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your track record, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was strong. That’s worth more than any new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– take a look at the actual expense.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” actually indicates.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A lot of the radiant testimonials available? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a payment. Find people with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a system that really functions the method it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project monitoring tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for client collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their largest supporter. But it really did not. And I can not act otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-blown movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also difficult to develop something terrific. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that simply function.