So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Round Robin.
I get it. The pledge is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving whatever under one roof sounds like an efficiency dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I want a person had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored set of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I mean, Keap managed whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t best, but it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire technology stack is brutal. I desire I might tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Crumbling
At first, it resembled things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant material. Three days straight. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, also reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You need to gain access to 3 different arrangement panels– spread throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to love the flexibility, yet whatever concerning the user experience made me feel like I required a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t envision what it’s like for a person simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery fees via Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less reliability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Round Robin.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of type of email marketing, you understand exactly how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, building trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get flushed away.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the truth no one informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, yet it was strong. That deserves greater than any new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– take a look at the genuine expense.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the beautiful reviews available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Discover people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that in fact functions the way it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific project administration tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet fantastic for customer cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d probably be their largest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not pretend or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also hard to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just work.