So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Themes.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing everything under one roof covering sounds like a productivity desire. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire a person had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked excellent.
I suggest, Keap took care of every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my service. Sure, it had not been best, however it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I wish I might inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Crumbling
Initially, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Entirely unimportant content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and restored series, also reached out to sustain. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You need to accessibility three different configuration panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to enjoy the flexibility, but everything concerning the individual experience made me seem like I needed a programmer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it’s like for somebody just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that start piling up. I observed random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution fees through Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Themes.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you recognize how important deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, constructing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get purged away.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch.
Keap had not been showy, however it was solid. That deserves greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– consider the genuine price.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” actually indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonies around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Locate people with nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your intestine.
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 looking for a system that really works the method it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task management devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however terrific for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to everything. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t claim or else.
So prior to you study a full-blown movement– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned as well hard to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just work.