So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it can replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (type of) GoHighLevel Vs Instantly.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of improving every little thing under one roofing sounds like a performance dream. But let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I desire a person had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I imply, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t excellent, but it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech stack is harsh. I want I could inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological energy it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong team of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant content. Three days in a row. And not the same people either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation setups, deleted and restored series, also reached out to support. Their feedback? “Web server concern.” 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 relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You need to access three different arrangement panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I intended to like the versatility, but everything concerning the user experience made me feel like I required a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t visualize what it’s like for somebody simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery charges through Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less dependability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Instantly.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of kind of e-mail marketing, you know just how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, developing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort obtain purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the fact nobody informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– take a look at the genuine expense.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” actually implies.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A lot of the glowing reviews around? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Find individuals with nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a system that in fact works the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task management devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for client collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. But it really did not. And I can not pretend or else.
So prior to you dive into a major migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the tough questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well tough to develop something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that simply function.