So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Unlimited Vs Pro.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying everything under one roofing sounds like a performance desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I wish a person had gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve 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 new? Like when your favored pair of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned wonderful.
I indicate, Keap managed whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, however it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains 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 item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole tech pile is brutal. I wish I might tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
Initially, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Completely irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and reconstructed series, also connected to sustain. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the emails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You have to gain access to three different configuration panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to enjoy the versatility, but everything concerning the user experience made me seem like I needed a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it’s like for somebody just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that start piling up. I saw random $10 fees turning up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution costs through Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Unlimited Vs Pro.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of kind of email marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, building trust, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like watching your effort get purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low cost– take a look at the genuine expense.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” truly indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Find individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact functions the method it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project administration devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, yet wonderful for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their largest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t act otherwise.
So before you study a major movement– or even worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked as well tough to build something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply function.