So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the glowing evaluations. 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 (sort of) GoHighLevel Vs Zapier.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying whatever under one roof seems like a productivity dream. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I desire a person had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I imply, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my organization. Sure, it had not been best, yet it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny 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 teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole technology stack is harsh. I want I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant material. Three days in a row. And not the exact same people either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt series, even reached out to sustain. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Easy job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You have to accessibility three different configuration panels– spread across the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wanted to love the versatility, however whatever concerning the user experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it resembles for a person simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that begin accumulating. I noticed random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery fees with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what appeared like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting method less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Zapier.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, building trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work obtain flushed away.
That’s precisely what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t validate staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise 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 profits.
But if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That’s worth more than any new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for small cost– look at the actual cost.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” really indicates.
4. Watch out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonials out there? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a commission. Discover people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a system that in fact functions the method it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project administration devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, but fantastic for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can not act otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the tough questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked too hard to construct something great. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with tools that simply work.