So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Voiceflow.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of enhancing whatever under one roof seems like an efficiency dream. However let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I wish somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned terrific.
I suggest, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the flashy brand-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 discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire technology pile is brutal. I wish I could tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental energy it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Crumbling
At first, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– disorder.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong group of calls. Completely unimportant content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and restored sequences, also connected to sustain. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Easy job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You have to accessibility 3 different configuration panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without directions. I intended to like the adaptability, but whatever concerning the customer experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it resembles for someone simply getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that start piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 costs popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what looked like an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Voiceflow.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you know just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, building trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth no one tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was strong. That deserves greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– look at the actual price.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” really implies.
4. Watch out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the radiant reviews available? They’re from associates attempting to score a payment. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a system that in fact functions the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job monitoring tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, but excellent for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can not make believe or else.
So before you dive into a full-blown migration– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked too difficult to develop something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply work.