So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it can change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Special Offer.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of streamlining whatever under one roofing system seems like a performance dream. Yet let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I mean, Keap handled everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been best, however it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire technology stack is brutal. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it looked like things were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong team of calls. Completely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and restored series, also reached out to support. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to accessibility three various configuration panels– spread across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wished to like the adaptability, however every little thing about the customer experience made me seem like I required a designer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t picture what it resembles for a person just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that begin piling up. I discovered random $10 costs popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution costs via Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what appeared like a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Special Offer.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your online reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great reason to change.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was strong. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low prices– consider the real price.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A lot of the radiant testimonials available? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a compensation. Find people with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a platform that in fact functions the way it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job management tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however wonderful for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned also hard to develop something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that just function.