So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) GoHighLevel Your Card Has Been Declined.
I get it. The promise is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing every little thing under one roofing system seems like a productivity dream. Yet let me quit you right there … because I fell for the buzz. And I wish somebody had actually ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident 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 Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite set of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it worked terrific.
I suggest, Keap managed whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, but it was trusted. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s whole technology pile is brutal. I wish I might inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong team of contacts. Totally unimportant material. Three days straight. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation setups, erased and rebuilt series, also connected to support. Their action? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me began. You need to access 3 various setup panels– scattered across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without guidelines. I intended to like the flexibility, yet everything about the user experience made me seem like I needed a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it resembles for a person just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not market clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin accumulating. I saw random $10 charges popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery costs with Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting way much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Your Card Has Been Declined.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any sort of email marketing, you know how crucial deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, developing count on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your online reputation, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– consider the real price.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” actually suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies out there? They’re from associates trying to rack up a payment. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that really works the way it guarantees, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Amazing automation, solid deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task management tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but excellent for customer collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not act or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-blown migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the hard inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked too hard to build something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with devices that just work.