So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Vs GreenRope.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of simplifying everything under one roofing system seems like an efficiency desire. However let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I desire somebody had grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful 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 headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned excellent.
I imply, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it had not been ideal, but it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers 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 reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole technology stack is brutal. I wish I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I really experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
At first, it appeared like things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the incorrect team of contacts. Entirely unnecessary web content. Three days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and rebuilt sequences, also connected to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to risk another error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You need to gain access to 3 different arrangement panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, yet whatever concerning the user experience made me feel like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it resembles for a person simply beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 fees popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery charges via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like 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 way less dependability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs GreenRope.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of email marketing, you understand just how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, building depend on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles seeing your hard work obtain purged away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re looking for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the reality no one tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was solid. That deserves more than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– look at the genuine expense.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” really suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the glowing reviews around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a payment. Find individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a system that really functions the means it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job administration tools for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but terrific for client partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. But it really did not. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown migration– or worse, encourage your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned as well difficult to construct something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that simply work.