So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Unified Inbox.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying every little thing under one roofing system sounds like an efficiency desire. But let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I wish a person had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I suggest, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it had not been perfect, yet it was reputable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech stack is ruthless. I want I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it resembled things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant content. Three days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation settings, erased and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to support. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of another error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You need to gain access to three various setup panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to enjoy the versatility, however every little thing concerning the user experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it’s like for a person just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin piling up. I noticed random $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment fees through Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Unified Inbox.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of email marketing, you understand just how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, building trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort obtain purged away.
That’s precisely what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the fact no person informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t showy, but it was strong. That’s worth greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for low cost– check out the genuine price.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” actually means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the radiant testimonials out there? They’re from associates attempting to score a compensation. Discover individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a platform that really functions the method it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project management devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for customer partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their largest supporter. But it really did not. And I can not act otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned also difficult to develop something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that simply work.