So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out how it could change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Surveys.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving whatever under one roof seems like a productivity desire. But let me stop you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish somebody had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored set of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my service. Sure, it had not been perfect, but it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire technology pile is ruthless. I desire I can tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Breaking Down
Initially, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of get in touches with. Completely unimportant content. Three days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, removed and rebuilt series, also reached out to support. Their action? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You need to gain access to three different arrangement panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to love the versatility, yet whatever regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can’t picture what it resembles for somebody just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that begin piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting means less integrity in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Surveys.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of email marketing, you recognize how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, building count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get purged away.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality no one informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was solid. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– each time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– take a look at the actual cost.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” actually implies.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the radiant reviews out there? They’re from associates trying to rack up a commission. Locate individuals with nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that really works the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job monitoring devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however great for customer collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their largest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t pretend or else.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned too difficult to develop something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just function.