So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Trust Center.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing whatever under one roofing sounds like a productivity desire. But let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I desire someone had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored set of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it worked excellent.
I suggest, Keap managed everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole technology stack is brutal. I desire I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental power it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Entirely unimportant content. Three days in a row. And not the same people either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and restored sequences, also connected to support. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered too much to risk another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You need to accessibility three different configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to enjoy the flexibility, yet every little thing regarding the individual experience made me feel like I required a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it’s like for someone simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that begin accumulating. I saw random $10 costs appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Trust Center.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you understand how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, constructing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like watching your effort get purged away.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– check out the actual expense.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” truly indicates.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the glowing testimonials available? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a system that in fact functions the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project management devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet great for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also difficult to build something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that just work.