So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Read 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 Templates.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of improving every little thing under one roofing seems like a performance dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I desire someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I indicate, Keap handled everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was reputable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I desire I might inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Breaking Down
At first, it looked like points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– disorder.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong group of calls. Entirely pointless material. 3 days in a row. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and reconstructed sequences, also connected to sustain. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to risk an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. 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 one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to access 3 various arrangement panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without directions. I intended to enjoy the versatility, yet everything about the user experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was having a hard time, I can not visualize what it resembles for someone simply beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that start piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery charges through Mailgun, their e-mail 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 obtaining method less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Templates.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, developing trust fund, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles watching your hard work obtain flushed away.
That’s precisely what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your online reputation, your client experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was strong. That deserves more than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– each time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– look at the real cost.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” really implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant reviews available? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Discover individuals with nothing to acquire.
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 Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that really functions the way it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task administration devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however excellent for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not make believe or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked too difficult to develop something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just function.