So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Regulatory Bundle.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of improving every little thing under one roofing system sounds like an efficiency desire. But let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire a person had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I suggest, Keap managed whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it had not been ideal, but it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology stack is brutal. I wish I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from square one– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I awakened to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Entirely unimportant material. 3 days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, deleted and restored series, also reached out to sustain. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Basic task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You need to access 3 various arrangement panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without instructions. I wished to like the flexibility, yet everything about the user experience made me seem like I needed a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t imagine what it’s like for somebody just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that start piling up. I saw random $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution charges with Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like 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 way much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Regulatory Bundle.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you understand how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, constructing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work get purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the reality no person 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.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– take a look at the real price.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonies available? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a payment. Find individuals with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a platform that really works the way it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job management devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but fantastic for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to every little thing. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not make believe or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown migration– or worse, persuade your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too difficult to develop something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that simply function.