So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Supercharged SaaS Program.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving whatever under one roofing system seems like an efficiency dream. However let me stop you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I desire somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored set of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I imply, Keap took care of every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it had not been perfect, however it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire technology pile is ruthless. I desire I could tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological power it sucked out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it resembled points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Completely pointless web content. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and rebuilt series, also connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered excessive to risk an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You need to accessibility 3 various configuration panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to love the flexibility, but everything regarding the customer experience made me seem like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it resembles for a person just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that begin piling up. I saw random $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution fees via Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Supercharged SaaS Program.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of type of email marketing, you know just how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, building count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort get flushed away.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the truth no one informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch over.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was strong. That’s worth greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– look at the actual expense.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” really implies.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the glowing testimonials available? They’re from associates trying to score a payment. Discover people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that in fact works the way it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project administration tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for client partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not claim otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a major migration– or worse, persuade your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked also hard to build something excellent. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that simply work.