So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel University.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying everything under one roofing sounds like a performance desire. But let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire someone had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I indicate, Keap managed whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t best, but it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things disorder. 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 blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology pile is brutal. I desire I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of contacts. Totally pointless material. Three days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, also connected to support. Their feedback? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of another error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You have to accessibility 3 various configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to love the adaptability, but everything regarding the customer experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it’s like for somebody simply beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that begin piling up. I discovered random $10 costs popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution costs via Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what looked like an affordable, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel University.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, constructing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your track record, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every single time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– look at the genuine expense.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” really implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the glowing reviews around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a compensation. Locate people with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a system that in fact works the means it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task administration devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but great for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So before you study a major movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked too difficult to develop something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that just function.