So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing evaluations. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel Website Templates.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing every little thing under one roof covering sounds like a productivity dream. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the buzz. And I desire someone had actually gotten me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
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 took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it functioned fantastic.
I mean, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it had not been excellent, but it was trusted. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire tech stack is brutal. I wish I can inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glance of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and screening workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Breaking Down
At first, it appeared like points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Entirely pointless web content. Three days in a row. And not the exact same people either– various sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and reconstructed sequences, also reached out to support. Their feedback? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No liability. And the e-mails just maintained going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to risk another error.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in places no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You have to gain access to 3 various arrangement panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to like the adaptability, yet every little thing about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it’s like for somebody just getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 costs popping up– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery costs through Mailgun, their email provider.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Website Templates.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your listing, constructing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it resembles watching your hard work obtain purged down the drain.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Here’s the fact nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth greater than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every time.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– take a look at the actual price.
Review the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” actually indicates.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the beautiful reviews available? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Locate people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that really works the means it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Remarkable automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task monitoring tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, however terrific for client collaboration and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. But it really did not. And I can’t claim or else.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked as well difficult to build something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that just function.