So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel SaaSPRENEUR Mastermind.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing whatever under one roof sounds like an efficiency dream. However let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I want someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked excellent.
I imply, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it had not been excellent, however it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech stack is brutal. I want I might inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
At first, it looked like things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong group of calls. Entirely unimportant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, also reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered excessive to risk an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You need to access 3 different setup panels– spread across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to enjoy the adaptability, however every little thing about the user experience made me seem like I needed a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it’s like for a person just starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start accumulating. I saw random $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery fees via Mailgun, their email company.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel SaaSPRENEUR Mastermind.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you understand how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, developing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your track record, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the fact no one informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– check out the real cost.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” actually means.
4. Look out for biased testimonials.
A lot of the glowing reviews out there? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a compensation. Find people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact works the means it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however excellent for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. However it didn’t. And I can’t act or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale movement– or worse, encourage your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked too tough to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that just function.