So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Roadmap.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of enhancing everything under one roofing sounds like an efficiency dream. Yet let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I mean, Keap dealt with whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Sure, it had not been ideal, however it was reputable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire technology stack is ruthless. I desire I might tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Entirely unnecessary content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and restored series, also reached out to sustain. Their action? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to risk an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You need to gain access to three various configuration panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to love the adaptability, yet every little thing concerning the user experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t picture what it resembles for someone just starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that begin piling up. I observed random $10 costs popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared 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 obtaining method less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Roadmap.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you understand just how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, constructing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your effort obtain purged away.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your reputation, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the reality no one informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, but it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– check out the real expense.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” really means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements available? They’re from associates attempting to score a payment. Locate people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a system that in fact works the method it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job administration tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet fantastic for customer partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not claim or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, convince your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the tough inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned as well hard to build something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that just work.