So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Website Builder.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roofing sounds like a productivity desire. Yet let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I wish a person had gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored set of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned terrific.
I indicate, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been best, yet it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire tech stack is brutal. I wish I might tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental energy it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
Initially, it looked like points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Totally unnecessary web content. 3 days straight. And not the exact same individuals either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and restored series, even connected to support. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You have to access three different setup panels– scattered across the interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I intended to love the adaptability, yet whatever about the user experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t visualize what it’s like for someone just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t market clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that begin accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 charges popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment fees via Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Website Builder.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of sort of e-mail marketing, you know exactly how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, constructing count on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it resembles viewing your effort obtain flushed away.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your client experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the reality no one informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t showy, yet it was solid. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– whenever.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for low cost– take a look at the real expense.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” really implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the radiant reviews around? They’re from associates trying to score a commission. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a platform that actually works the way it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task administration devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, but fantastic for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can’t act otherwise.
So before you study a major migration– or worse, encourage your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned also difficult to construct something great. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just work.