So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Vs Kommo.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of simplifying everything under one roofing sounds like a performance dream. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your favorite set of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I mean, Keap managed whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it had not been excellent, but it was reputable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire tech pile is harsh. I want I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental power it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
At first, it looked like things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect team of calls. Entirely irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, even connected to support. Their feedback? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered too much to run the risk of an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You have to gain access to three different configuration panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to love the versatility, but every little thing about the individual experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not visualize what it’s like for someone simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start piling up. I discovered arbitrary $10 charges turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment charges via Mailgun, their email company.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less reliability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Kommo.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of email marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, constructing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work obtain purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the fact no person informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That’s worth greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for low prices– take a look at the genuine cost.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” actually indicates.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful endorsements out there? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a payment. Discover people with nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your intestine.
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 looking for a platform that actually functions the way it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project management devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however terrific for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. Yet 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 very same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too hard to build something terrific. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that just function.