So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Shopify Integration.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving whatever under one roof sounds like a productivity desire. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I want somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic 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 Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned fantastic.
I mean, Keap dealt with every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it had not been best, but it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy brand-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 specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I wish I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Crumbling
In the beginning, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and reconstructed series, even connected to support. Their response? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered too much to risk one more screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Simple job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You have to gain access to 3 various setup panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to like the flexibility, however every little thing regarding the customer experience made me feel like I required a programmer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t envision what it’s like for a person just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that start accumulating. I discovered random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution charges through Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting means less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Shopify Integration.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of email marketing, you understand how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, developing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality no person tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every single time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– look at the genuine price.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” truly suggests.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the beautiful testimonials available? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Locate individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that really functions the means it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job management tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can’t act or else.
So before you study a major migration– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned as well hard to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just work.