So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Spotify.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of simplifying whatever under one roofing sounds like a performance desire. However let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish somebody had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of shoes instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I indicate, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological power it drew out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Crumbling
Initially, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Entirely unimportant content. 3 days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to support. Their feedback? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to risk one more screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to access three different configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to like the flexibility, however whatever regarding the individual experience made me seem like I required a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it resembles for someone simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that start accumulating. I discovered random $10 costs popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery charges with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Spotify.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of e-mail marketing, you recognize how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, constructing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it’s like viewing your effort obtain flushed away.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the truth no person tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was solid. That deserves more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for small cost– check out the actual expense.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “limitless” truly indicates.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A lot of the beautiful testimonies available? They’re from associates trying to score a payment. Find people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a system that actually works the way it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job administration tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but fantastic for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their most significant supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t pretend or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or worse, convince your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned as well hard to develop something terrific. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that simply function.