So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Test Card.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying everything under one roof sounds like an efficiency desire. However let me stop you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I desire a person had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked great.
I indicate, Keap handled whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I desire I might tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Crumbling
At first, it looked like things were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong team of contacts. Completely irrelevant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the same individuals either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and restored series, also connected to support. Their reaction? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered way too much to risk another error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You have to access three various configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to love the versatility, however whatever regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not imagine what it’s like for someone just starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 charges turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment fees with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what appeared like an inexpensive, flat-rate system? 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 felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Test Card.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you recognize just how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, constructing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work get purged away.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– look at the genuine cost.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” really suggests.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant reviews around? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Discover people with nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a system that in fact works the means it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet great for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their most significant cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can not make believe or else.
So before you study a major movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the tough concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too hard to build something excellent. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just work.