So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the radiant testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel Whitelabel Desktop App.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of improving everything under one roofing system sounds like an efficiency desire. Yet let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish somebody had grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something new? Like when your favored set of footwear unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it worked great.
I indicate, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my organization. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was trustworthy. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. 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 humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole technology pile is brutal. I desire I can inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from square one– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the wrong team of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant material. Three days straight. And not the very same individuals either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, erased and restored series, even connected to support. Their action? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Basic task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You need to gain access to 3 various setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wished to enjoy the adaptability, but whatever regarding the customer experience made me seem like I needed a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can’t picture what it resembles for somebody simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that begin accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 costs appearing– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery fees with Mailgun, their email provider.
So what appeared like an economical, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means much less dependability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Whitelabel Desktop App.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of type of email marketing, you recognize just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, constructing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles seeing your effort get flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your reputation, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Below’s the fact no person informs you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was solid. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every single time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– look at the actual cost.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” actually means.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced reviews.
A great deal of the radiant reviews around? They’re from affiliates trying to score a commission. Locate individuals with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
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 system that really functions the way it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task administration tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for customer partnership and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can’t claim or else.
So before you study a major movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the tough questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve worked also tough to build something wonderful. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that just function.