So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review just how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Vs Competitors.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of improving whatever under one roofing sounds like an efficiency dream. However let me stop you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I desire someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I suggest, Keap managed every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, however it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I wish I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it resembled points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– mayhem.
One early morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Totally pointless material. Three days straight. And not the very same individuals either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation settings, erased and rebuilt sequences, also connected to sustain. Their action? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You need to gain access to three various setup panels– spread across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I intended to like the adaptability, however every little thing regarding the user experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it resembles for someone just starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that begin piling up. I observed random $10 charges popping up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery fees with Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Competitors.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you understand just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, building depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like viewing your effort get purged away.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the truth no person informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, but it was solid. That deserves greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– consider the actual expense.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” truly indicates.
4. Watch out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the radiant testimonials around? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a compensation. Find people with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a system that actually functions the way it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task monitoring devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but great for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. However it really did not. And I can not claim or else.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or worse, encourage your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too difficult to construct something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to devices that simply work.