So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Terms and Conditions.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of simplifying everything under one roofing system seems like a performance dream. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I wish someone had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it worked excellent.
I indicate, Keap managed every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it had not been best, yet it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech pile is brutal. I wish I could inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental power it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Crumbling
Initially, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect group of calls. Entirely unimportant material. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and restored sequences, even connected to sustain. Their response? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to risk an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me began. You have to gain access to three various arrangement panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to enjoy the versatility, yet everything regarding the customer experience made me seem like I required a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can not imagine what it’s like for a person simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment charges with Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what resembled an affordable, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Terms and Conditions.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you understand just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, developing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work obtain purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– check out the actual price.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” truly suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A lot of the glowing endorsements around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Locate people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact functions the method it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task administration devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for customer collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their most significant cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can not pretend or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked also tough to construct something excellent. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that simply work.