So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel SaaS Blueprint.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing whatever under one roof seems like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I wish a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your favored set of shoes unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked great.
I indicate, Keap took care of everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, yet 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 start considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech pile is harsh. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Crumbling
In the beginning, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– disorder.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Completely pointless content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation setups, removed and rebuilt series, even reached out to sustain. Their action? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered excessive to risk an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Simple job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You need to gain access to three different setup panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to love the versatility, yet every little thing regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t envision what it resembles for a person simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution costs with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. 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 SaaS Blueprint.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you understand how important deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, developing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work get purged away.
That’s precisely what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the fact no person informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t showy, but it was solid. That deserves greater than any new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– consider the genuine price.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” truly indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews out there? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Find individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a system that in fact works the method it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job administration tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet wonderful for client partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to every little thing. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can not claim or else.
So before you dive into a full-blown movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked too difficult to develop something great. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply work.