So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel SMTP.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving whatever under one roofing seems like an efficiency dream. However let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I want somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I imply, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Sure, it had not been excellent, however it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire tech stack is brutal. I desire I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from square one– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
Initially, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Totally unnecessary web content. Three days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and reconstructed series, also connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered way too much to run the risk of one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You have to accessibility 3 different setup panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I intended to love the flexibility, but every little thing regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a designer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can’t imagine what it’s like for somebody simply getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that start accumulating. I observed random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery costs with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less reliability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel SMTP.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, developing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it resembles watching your hard work obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was strong. That deserves greater than any new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– each time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– check out the real expense.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” really implies.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the radiant testimonials out there? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a payment. Locate people with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your gut.
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 trying to find a system that actually works the method it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task management tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but excellent for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So before you dive into a full-blown movement– or worse, encourage your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked as well tough to develop something wonderful. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that simply work.