So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Vs FlowTrack.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of improving every little thing under one roofing seems like a performance dream. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I wish somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear suddenly really 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 honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I suggest, Keap took care of every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t best, but it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire tech stack is ruthless. I wish I could inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Falling Apart
Initially, it resembled things were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect group of calls. Entirely unnecessary content. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and reconstructed series, even reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You need to accessibility 3 different configuration panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without instructions. I wished to like the versatility, however everything concerning the individual experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it’s like for someone simply beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start piling up. I saw random $10 costs popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution charges with Mailgun, their email provider.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs FlowTrack.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you know how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, building count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the fact no one informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, yet it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to low prices– take a look at the actual cost.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually indicates.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the glowing reviews available? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that really works the way it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job monitoring devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but wonderful for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can not pretend otherwise.
So before you study a major migration– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned also hard to build something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that simply function.