So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Stock.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roofing sounds like an efficiency dream. However let me stop you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I want a person had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored set of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked fantastic.
I suggest, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t ideal, but it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire technology pile is harsh. I wish I can inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental power it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
Initially, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Entirely unnecessary web content. Three days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, removed and reconstructed sequences, also connected to support. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered too much to take the chance of another error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Basic task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You need to access 3 various configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to like the adaptability, but every little thing regarding the individual experience made me seem like I required a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it resembles for someone simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery fees with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less integrity in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Stock.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, developing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work obtain purged away.
That’s specifically what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth no person informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch over.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was solid. That deserves greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– look at the actual expense.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the radiant endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to score a payment. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that really works the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their most significant cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can’t act or else.
So before you study a major movement– or worse, persuade your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too difficult to develop something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that just function.