So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Support.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of streamlining whatever under one roofing sounds like a productivity desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I want someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something new? Like when your favored set of footwear suddenly 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 precise. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I mean, Keap dealt with whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, however it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand 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 losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech pile is brutal. I want I might tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for as well long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Crumbling
Initially, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and restored sequences, even connected to sustain. Their action? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You need to access three different configuration panels– scattered across the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to love the flexibility, but every little thing concerning the customer experience made me seem like I needed a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it resembles for someone simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that start accumulating. I observed random $10 fees turning up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery costs via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting way much less integrity in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Support.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you understand just how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, constructing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work obtain purged away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch over.
Keap had not been fancy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– look at the real expense.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Find individuals with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that really functions the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job management devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet excellent for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, convince your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked too hard to build something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just work.