So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the beautiful evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it can change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) GoHighLevel WordPress Hosting.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing every little thing under one roofing sounds like an efficiency dream. Yet let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I desire a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this first. It’ll save you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned great.
I indicate, Keap managed every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it had not been perfect, but it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology pile is ruthless. I want I could inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a glance of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Breaking Down
Initially, it looked like points were working. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
Then– chaos.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the wrong group of get in touches with. Completely unnecessary web content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and restored sequences, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You need to accessibility three various arrangement panels– scattered throughout the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to like the flexibility, however whatever about the user experience made me seem like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it resembles for somebody just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that begin piling up. I noticed arbitrary $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution fees with Mailgun, their e-mail company.
So what looked like an inexpensive, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel WordPress Hosting.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, developing count on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work obtain flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And considering that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your credibility, your customer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to switch.
Keap had not been fancy, yet it was strong. That deserves more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– each time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for affordable price– look at the real price.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” truly means.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A lot of the glowing endorsements around? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a commission. Discover individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a system that really functions the way it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job monitoring devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet wonderful for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to every little thing. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t act or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown migration– or worse, convince your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the tough concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned too difficult to develop something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just work.