So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Rest API.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of streamlining everything under one roofing seems like a performance dream. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I wish someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked fantastic.
I indicate, Keap managed everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, however it was trusted. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire technology pile is brutal. I desire I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Falling Apart
At first, it appeared like things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of contacts. Entirely pointless web content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered too much to risk an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You have to accessibility 3 different configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to love the versatility, however whatever about the individual experience made me feel like I needed a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t envision what it resembles for someone just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 costs appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment fees with 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 investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Rest API.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you know how essential deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, constructing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it’s like viewing your effort obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the fact nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was strong. That deserves greater than any new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for small cost– look at the actual cost.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” really means.
4. Watch out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the radiant reviews around? They’re from affiliates trying to score a payment. Discover individuals with nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a system that actually works the means it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however fantastic for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you study a major migration– or worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned too tough to build something wonderful. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that just function.