So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it could change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Vs Airtable.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of enhancing everything under one roofing system sounds like a performance dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I want someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked great.
I imply, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t best, however it was trusted. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole technology stack is harsh. I want I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental power it drew out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Falling Apart
At first, it appeared like points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– disorder.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong group of calls. Totally irrelevant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation setups, removed and rebuilt sequences, even connected to support. Their response? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of one more error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You need to gain access to 3 different configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to love the adaptability, but every little thing concerning the customer experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it’s like for someone simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that begin piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution fees via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Airtable.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of kind of e-mail marketing, you know exactly how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, building trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– take a look at the actual price.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” actually implies.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonials available? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a compensation. Find individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a platform that in fact works the way it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent task management devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, but terrific for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So before you study a major movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also difficult to develop something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that just work.