So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Vs inTandem.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of improving whatever under one roofing sounds like a productivity desire. But let me stop you right there … due to the fact that 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 walking you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored set of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I indicate, Keap took care of whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t best, however it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole tech stack is ruthless. I wish I might tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not forget the mental power it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Began Falling Apart
Initially, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of contacts. Completely unnecessary material. Three days straight. And not the very same individuals either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, deleted and restored series, even connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered too much to run the risk of another error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You have to gain access to three various arrangement panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to love the versatility, however every little thing concerning the user experience made me seem like I required a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it resembles for someone just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start piling up. I discovered arbitrary $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution charges through Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what appeared like an inexpensive, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting means much less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs inTandem.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of type of email marketing, you understand just how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, developing trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was strong. That’s worth greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every single time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for low cost– take a look at the genuine cost.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unrestricted” actually implies.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonials available? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a commission. Find people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a system that actually functions the method it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job administration tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, but great for client collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So before you dive into a major migration– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also hard to develop something great. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just work.