So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Travel Agency Playbook.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying everything under one roof covering sounds like a performance desire. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I want someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your preferred set of shoes unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I mean, Keap took care of every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Sure, it had not been ideal, yet it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech pile is brutal. I want I can tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental energy it drew out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will 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 online. I exhaled a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Totally unnecessary web content. Three days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and reconstructed sequences, even connected to support. Their feedback? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the emails just kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You have to access three different setup panels– spread across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to like the versatility, however every little thing about the individual experience made me feel like I required a designer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it resembles for somebody just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start piling up. I observed random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Travel Agency Playbook.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you understand just how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, constructing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your effort obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your client experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every single time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– take a look at the real cost.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” truly means.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the beautiful testimonies out there? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Find people with nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a platform that in fact functions the way it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project administration devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet wonderful for client collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to whatever. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can’t act or else.
So prior to you study a full-blown movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too difficult to develop something great. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just work.