So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it could change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Security and Compliance.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of enhancing everything under one roofing system sounds like an efficiency desire. Yet let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I want somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I imply, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t best, however it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m speaking 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 demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech pile is ruthless. I wish I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the mental energy it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Falling Apart
Initially, it appeared like points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of calls. Entirely irrelevant web content. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, also connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Basic task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You have to access three different arrangement panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without directions. I wanted to love the versatility, but everything concerning the individual experience made me feel like I needed a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it resembles for someone just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery costs through Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Security and Compliance.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, developing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work obtain purged away.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the reality no person tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was solid. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– look at the genuine cost.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the radiant endorsements out there? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Find people with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact functions the way it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job management tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but fantastic for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant supporter. However it really did not. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned as well hard to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that simply function.