So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read how it could change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Vs Zendesk.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying whatever under one roofing sounds like a performance dream. But let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I desire a person had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it worked wonderful.
I suggest, Keap dealt with everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it had not been perfect, however it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets 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 item disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole technology stack is harsh. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Crumbling
In the beginning, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Entirely unimportant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the very same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt sequences, even connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered way too much to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me began. You need to accessibility 3 different setup panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I wished to like the flexibility, but every little thing concerning the user experience made me seem like I required a programmer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not picture what it’s like for someone just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that begin piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 charges appearing– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery fees with Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what looked like a budget friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Zendesk.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you know just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, constructing depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work obtain flushed away.
That’s precisely what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re looking for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the reality no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– whenever.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for small cost– check out the actual expense.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” really means.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonials out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a commission. Discover individuals with nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that really works the method it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project management devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. But it really did not. And I can not pretend or else.
So prior to you dive into a major migration– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too hard to develop something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that just function.