So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Two-Factor Authentication.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying whatever under one roof sounds like an efficiency desire. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I want a person had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I indicate, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been excellent, but it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole tech stack is harsh. I want I can tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the psychological power it sucked out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Falling Apart
At first, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect group of contacts. Entirely unimportant material. Three days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to access 3 various arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to like the versatility, however whatever regarding the customer experience made me seem like I required a designer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t picture what it resembles for a person just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start accumulating. I discovered random $10 fees appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution costs through Mailgun, their email company.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting means less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Two-Factor Authentication.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, building depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your track record, your client experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– check out the actual expense.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” really implies.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the glowing endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Find people with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a system that in fact functions the method it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job administration devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however excellent for client partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So prior to you dive into a major migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too hard to construct something wonderful. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that simply work.