So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the glowing evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Vs GrooveFunnels.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying every little thing under one roofing system sounds like a productivity desire. But let me stop you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I desire somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned great.
I suggest, Keap handled whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my organization. Certain, it wasn’t best, yet it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire technology pile is harsh. I wish I might inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental power it drew out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it looked like points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Totally pointless content. 3 days in a row. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and reconstructed series, also connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Simple task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You need to accessibility three various arrangement panels– spread throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to love the adaptability, yet every little thing concerning the customer experience made me seem like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not imagine what it resembles for a person just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that begin piling up. I saw random $10 costs popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery fees with Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting means much less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs GrooveFunnels.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you understand just how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, constructing depend on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles viewing your effort get purged down the drain.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth no person tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a great reason to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was strong. That’s worth greater than any new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t succumb to low prices– consider the real cost.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” really implies.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonies around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a payment. Discover people with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
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 platform that in fact works the method it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task monitoring devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but wonderful for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to every little thing. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked as well difficult to build something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just work.