So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read just how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel RingCentral.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving whatever under one roof seems like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I desire somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I indicate, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it had not been best, yet it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. 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 bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech pile is harsh. I want I could inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological power it sucked out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
At first, it resembled points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of contacts. Entirely irrelevant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and restored sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their reaction? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you an image. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. You need to gain access to three different setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without directions. I wanted to enjoy the versatility, but whatever about the customer experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it’s like for someone simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that start piling up. I observed arbitrary $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment fees through 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 spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting way much less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel RingCentral.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you know just how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, developing trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not 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 searching for something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, but it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for low cost– consider the actual price.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” really means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the radiant reviews available? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a system that really functions the method it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project monitoring tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but terrific for customer collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can’t make believe or else.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the tough concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked too difficult to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply work.