So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Vs LinkTree.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving every little thing under one roof covering sounds like an efficiency desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I want someone had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I suggest, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, however it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains 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 things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming about 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, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole technology pile is harsh. I wish I might tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Entirely pointless material. Three days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and restored series, even connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You have to access 3 various setup panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furnishings without instructions. I intended to love the versatility, however every little thing about the user experience made me seem like I needed a developer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it resembles for someone simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that begin piling up. I discovered random $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution fees with Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs LinkTree.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you understand just how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, building count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the truth no person informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– consider the genuine expense.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” truly suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies available? They’re from affiliates attempting to rack up a payment. Locate people with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact functions the way it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project monitoring tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for customer partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can not make believe or else.
So prior to you dive into a major migration– or worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also hard to build something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply work.