So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read just how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Social Planner.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of improving whatever under one roof covering sounds like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I wish a person had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I suggest, Keap handled whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire tech pile is harsh. I wish I could inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Crumbling
Initially, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I awakened to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong team of calls. Totally unimportant content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their action? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You have to gain access to three different configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to enjoy the flexibility, but whatever concerning the customer experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it resembles for someone simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 costs appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment costs via Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting way much less dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Social Planner.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, developing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it’s like viewing your effort get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth no person informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was strong. That deserves more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every single time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– look at the real expense.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually indicates.
4. Watch out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the glowing endorsements out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a system that really functions the way it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet excellent for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not act otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-blown movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked also hard to build something excellent. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that simply work.