So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Voice AI.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roof covering sounds like a performance dream. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I want somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned terrific.
I mean, Keap dealt with everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t best, however it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire tech stack is brutal. I wish I could tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Falling Apart
At first, it looked like points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– disorder.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant content. Three days in a row. And not the same people either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt sequences, also reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You need to accessibility three different configuration panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to love the versatility, yet whatever regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it resembles for a person simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that start piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment costs through Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting means much less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Voice AI.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of kind of e-mail marketing, you know how important deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, constructing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles watching your hard work obtain purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good reason to change.
Keap had not been flashy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– consider the real cost.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” really means.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A lot of the radiant endorsements around? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a system that in fact works the means it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project monitoring tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet great for customer partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not claim otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned also tough to construct something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that simply function.