So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Security Response.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of enhancing everything under one roofing system sounds like a performance dream. But let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I wish somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my service. Certain, it had not been best, yet it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole tech pile is harsh. I wish I could inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological energy it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Breaking Down
At first, it looked like points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Entirely irrelevant content. 3 days in a row. And not the same people either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt series, also reached out to support. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered too much to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You have to access three different arrangement panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without directions. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, but every little thing regarding the user experience made me feel like I required a designer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can’t visualize what it’s like for a person just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start accumulating. I observed arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery charges through Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting means less integrity in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Security Response.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you know how essential deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, developing trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was solid. That’s worth more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every single time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for low cost– take a look at the real cost.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” actually implies.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews available? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a payment. Find people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a system that in fact works the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task administration devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, but great for client partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can not act otherwise.
So prior to you study a major migration– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well difficult to build something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply function.