So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Recruiting Snapshot.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of enhancing everything under one roof seems like an efficiency dream. But let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I want somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I suggest, Keap handled whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been excellent, however it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole tech stack is ruthless. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental energy it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like things were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of calls. Entirely irrelevant web content. 3 days straight. And not the same individuals either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and rebuilt sequences, even connected to support. Their action? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the emails just maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered too much to run the risk of another screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You have to gain access to three various arrangement panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to like the flexibility, yet whatever about the customer experience made me seem like I required a designer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that start piling up. I noticed random $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery fees with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Recruiting Snapshot.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you recognize exactly how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, constructing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work obtain purged away.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for small cost– take a look at the real cost.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” really suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the beautiful endorsements out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Locate individuals with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a platform that actually functions the means it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job management devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet wonderful for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked too hard to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply function.