So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Texting & SMS.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of simplifying whatever under one roofing seems like a performance desire. But let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I desire somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save 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 brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I indicate, Keap took care of every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t excellent, but it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about 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 reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole technology stack is harsh. I want I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– disorder.
One early morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong team of get in touches with. Entirely pointless content. 3 days straight. And not the very same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation setups, deleted and restored series, also reached out to sustain. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me paint you an image. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me began. You have to gain access to 3 different arrangement panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to like the flexibility, yet everything about the customer experience made me seem like I needed a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can not visualize what it resembles for a person simply beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment fees with Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what resembled a budget friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting means less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Texting & SMS.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you recognize exactly how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, constructing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it’s like viewing your effort get purged away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality no person tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
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 kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– consider the real expense.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” really implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the beautiful testimonies around? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Locate people with nothing to obtain.
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 Think About
If you’re seeking a platform that really works the method it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project monitoring tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet fantastic for client partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest cheerleader. However it didn’t. And I can not claim or else.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or worse, encourage your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked too hard to construct something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that simply work.