So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the glowing reviews. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Vs Pipedrive.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying everything under one roofing system seems like a performance desire. However let me stop you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I desire a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked excellent.
I mean, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it had not been best, yet it was reputable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire tech stack is brutal. I wish I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it drew out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Crumbling
In the beginning, it appeared like points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
Then– disorder.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Entirely irrelevant material. Three days straight. And not the very same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation settings, removed and rebuilt series, also connected to support. Their response? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the e-mails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You have to accessibility 3 various arrangement panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to like the flexibility, yet whatever regarding the individual experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting beside 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 envision what it’s like for somebody just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start piling up. I discovered arbitrary $10 costs popping up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery charges via Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what looked like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method much less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Pipedrive.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you know just how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, constructing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly 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 given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify 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 searching for something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality nobody tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– whenever.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low prices– consider the real cost.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” actually indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews around? They’re from associates attempting to score a payment. Find people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re looking for a platform that really functions the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Outstanding automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task monitoring devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet wonderful for customer partnership and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not claim otherwise.
So before you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned also hard to develop something wonderful. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just work.