So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the beautiful testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel Webhooks.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system seems like an efficiency desire. However let me quit you right there … since I fell for the buzz. And I want someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I indicate, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, but it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I desire I can tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not forget the psychological energy it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried sensation after staring at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for two weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
At first, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Entirely pointless web content. Three days in a row. And not the exact same people either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You need to access 3 different arrangement panels– spread throughout the interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to enjoy the flexibility, however whatever regarding the individual experience made me feel like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody 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 simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin accumulating. I observed random $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution costs with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled a cost effective, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less dependability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Webhooks.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, constructing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it’s like viewing your effort obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– look at the genuine expense.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” actually implies.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the radiant testimonies available? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a payment. Find people with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a platform that actually functions the method it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project administration devices for small teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but terrific for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their biggest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not act or else.
So prior to you study a major migration– or even worse, encourage your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also difficult to construct something excellent. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just work.