So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Vs Constant Contact.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of enhancing whatever under one roof covering seems like an efficiency desire. But let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I desire somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred set of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it worked excellent.
I mean, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t best, yet it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’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 look of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Completely unimportant material. 3 days straight. And not the exact same people either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation settings, deleted and restored series, even reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You have to accessibility 3 various configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to love the adaptability, however everything regarding the customer experience made me seem like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can’t envision what it resembles for someone just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that begin piling up. I saw random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery fees with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method much less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Constant Contact.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you know just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, constructing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles seeing your hard work obtain purged away.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at the very least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– look at the actual price.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” truly indicates.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the glowing testimonies available? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a payment. Discover individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a system that really works the method it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job monitoring devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet fantastic for customer partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants 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 largest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can’t claim or else.
So before you dive into a major migration– or worse, convince your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the tough questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also difficult to develop something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply function.