So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Vs Nimble CRM.
I get it. The promise is appealing: 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 seems like a performance desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I desire somebody had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked great.
I mean, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t best, but it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Price of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s entire technology stack is ruthless. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from square one– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Falling Apart
Initially, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of calls. Totally unimportant content. Three days straight. And not the very same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt series, also connected to sustain. Their action? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You need to access three various configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to like the flexibility, but everything about the user experience made me seem like I required a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not imagine what it’s like for someone just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery costs with Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Nimble CRM.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you know exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, building trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work get purged down the drain.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the fact no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch.
Keap had not been showy, however it was solid. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for low cost– check out the actual price.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” truly implies.
4. Look out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the radiant testimonials out there? They’re from associates trying to score a payment. Discover people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a system that really functions the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task monitoring devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, but terrific for client partnership and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can not claim or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale movement– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned as well tough to develop something wonderful. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply function.