So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review how it could replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Vs Zoho.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of streamlining whatever under one roof seems like an efficiency dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I wish a person had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And honestly, it functioned excellent.
I mean, Keap took care of whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been ideal, but it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however 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?
Because of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology pile is ruthless. I desire I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You understand that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it looked like things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect group of calls. Completely irrelevant web content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and reconstructed series, also reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. 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 crucial. My target market mattered too much to run the risk of another screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You need to gain access to 3 different arrangement panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to like the adaptability, however every little thing about the customer experience made me seem like I required a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it’s like for a person simply getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that begin accumulating. I discovered random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery costs via Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what appeared like a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting means less integrity in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Vs Zoho.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of email marketing, you recognize exactly how important deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, constructing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort obtain purged away.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
But if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– take a look at the real price.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “endless” truly implies.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant reviews around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Discover people with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re looking for a system that actually functions the method it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great job administration tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet fantastic for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest cheerleader. However it didn’t. And I can not claim or else.
So prior to you study a major migration– or worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also hard to develop something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with tools that simply function.