So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) GoHighLevel Zap MarketerMagic.
I get it. The assurance is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying everything under one roofing system seems like an efficiency dream. But let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I want a person had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of footwear instantly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked great.
I indicate, Keap dealt with whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been ideal, however it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize specifically what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Changing: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your company’s entire tech pile is brutal. I want I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And allow’s not neglect the mental power it sucked out of me. You know that worn down, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Started Crumbling
Initially, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent out to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Completely irrelevant content. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, deleted and restored series, also reached out to support. Their response? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the emails just kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered too much to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no person would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You need to accessibility 3 different configuration panels– spread throughout the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to enjoy the flexibility, but whatever regarding the user experience made me feel like I required a developer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not visualize what it’s like for somebody simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start accumulating. I observed random $10 costs appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery fees with Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what looked like an inexpensive, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel Zap MarketerMagic.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of type of e-mail marketing, you recognize how essential deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your checklist, building depend on, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it resembles seeing your hard work get flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the truth nobody tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That’s worth greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for low prices– look at the actual price.
Review the small print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” really implies.
4. Look out for prejudiced testimonials.
A great deal of the beautiful endorsements around? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a commission. Locate people with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that in fact functions the method it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project management tools for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but excellent for client cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, super streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not pretend or else.
So before you study a full-blown migration– or even worse, convince your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve worked as well difficult to construct something excellent. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just work.