So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Trigger Links.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of simplifying everything under one roofing system sounds like a productivity desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I want someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it worked wonderful.
I indicate, Keap handled everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been ideal, however it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech pile is ruthless. I desire I might tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from square one– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong team of calls. Totally unnecessary web content. 3 days straight. And not the same individuals either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and rebuilt series, also connected to support. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered too much to risk an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You have to gain access to three different arrangement panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without directions. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, however whatever about the individual experience made me feel like I needed a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it resembles for somebody simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that begin piling up. I saw random $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges through Mailgun, their email carrier.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Trigger Links.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of kind of email marketing, you recognize just how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, constructing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t 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 bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the truth no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, however it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– whenever.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– look at the genuine cost.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” actually means.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant reviews out there? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a platform that actually functions the way it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task monitoring devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but great for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their largest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So prior to you study a major movement– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned as well difficult to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that just function.