So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Testimonials.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing everything under one roof sounds like a performance dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I wish somebody had gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned excellent.
I mean, Keap managed everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my organization. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, yet it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole technology stack is brutal. I wish I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Falling Apart
Initially, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– disorder.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Totally unnecessary material. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and reconstructed series, even connected to support. Their action? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You have to gain access to three different setup panels– spread across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without instructions. I wished to enjoy the versatility, yet whatever concerning the user experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t envision what it resembles for someone simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that start piling up. I observed random $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment fees through Mailgun, their email company.
So what resembled a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Testimonials.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, developing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort get purged away.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your track record, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the reality no one tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– look at the actual expense.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” really suggests.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements around? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a system that in fact functions the means it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job monitoring devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however excellent for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not make believe or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale migration– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also tough to develop something excellent. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just function.