So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review how it might replace your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Web Designer Playbook.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of streamlining whatever under one roofing sounds like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I want a person had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole tech pile is brutal. I want I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
At first, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Completely irrelevant material. Three days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, deleted and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to support. Their action? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to risk another error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to accessibility 3 different arrangement panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furnishings without directions. I intended to like the flexibility, yet whatever about the individual experience made me seem like I required a programmer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was battling, I can not visualize what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that start piling up. I observed arbitrary $10 charges popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment charges with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what looked like a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting method much less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Web Designer Playbook.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of kind of email marketing, you recognize exactly how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, constructing trust fund, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort obtain purged away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your track record, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Right here’s the reality no person informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch.
Keap had not been showy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– look at the real cost.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” truly indicates.
4. Watch out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing endorsements available? They’re from affiliates trying to score a payment. Locate people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that in fact works the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job administration tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet great for client collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their most significant cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can not claim or else.
So before you dive into a full-scale migration– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned as well hard to develop something excellent. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that just work.