So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Webinar.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing every little thing under one roof seems like an efficiency desire. But let me stop you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I want someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been making use of Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I mean, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been ideal, but it was reputable. 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 begin eyeing the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Rate of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole technology stack is brutal. I want I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Crumbling
At first, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong team of calls. Completely pointless web content. 3 days in a row. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, deleted and reconstructed sequences, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered way too much to risk one more error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Irritation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You need to access three different configuration panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to like the flexibility, yet everything about the customer experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t picture what it resembles for somebody just starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little fees that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring shipment fees via Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Webinar.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, constructing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it’s like viewing your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth no one informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, yet it was strong. That deserves more than any type of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– consider the real price.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” actually suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies available? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a platform that actually functions the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project management devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet excellent for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to everything. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So before you dive into a major migration– or worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– take a breath. 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 construct something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that simply function.