So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Vs Odoo.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of streamlining everything under one roof covering sounds like a productivity desire. But let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I wish somebody had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I suggest, Keap managed every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, but it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole technology stack is harsh. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological power it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
In the beginning, it appeared like points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect team of calls. Entirely unnecessary content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, removed and restored sequences, even connected to support. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails simply kept going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Easy job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me began. You need to access three different arrangement panels– spread across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furnishings without directions. I wanted to like the adaptability, but whatever concerning the user experience made me seem like I required a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it’s like for a person just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that begin piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 fees appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment fees via Mailgun, their email provider.
So what appeared like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Odoo.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of email marketing, you know exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it’s like watching your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the truth no one informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap had not been showy, however it was solid. That deserves more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– look at the genuine price.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” truly implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A lot of the glowing testimonials out there? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Find individuals with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re seeking a system that really functions the method it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific job management tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet great for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t make believe or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale movement– or worse, convince your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned as well hard to develop something fantastic. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that simply function.