So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Vs Climbo.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying every little thing under one roof sounds like an efficiency desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I want someone had gotten me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored set of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I suggest, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it had not been excellent, but it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech pile is ruthless. I desire I might tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for too long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Falling Apart
Initially, it looked like points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong team of calls. Entirely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and rebuilt series, even connected to support. Their feedback? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You need to accessibility three various configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to love the adaptability, however whatever regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it’s like for a person simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’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 accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 charges popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges through Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what looked like an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Climbo.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any sort of email marketing, you understand how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, building trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the fact nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– whenever.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– look at the actual expense.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” actually indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Find people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a system that really works the way it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job administration devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, but wonderful for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned also difficult to build something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that just work.