So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review just how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) How Long Has GoHighLevel Been Around.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving whatever under one roof sounds like an efficiency dream. But let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I wish someone had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I indicate, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, yet it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole tech stack is harsh. I desire I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental power it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Started Crumbling
In the beginning, it resembled things were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One early morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect team of calls. Totally unnecessary material. 3 days in a row. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, also reached out to support. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails just kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered excessive to take the chance of another error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a photo. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also get me started. You have to accessibility 3 different arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to love the flexibility, however whatever regarding the individual experience made me seem like I required a programmer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can’t visualize what it resembles for somebody simply beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 costs popping up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery charges through Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what resembled an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting way less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me How Long Has GoHighLevel Been Around.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of type of e-mail marketing, you know exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your list, building count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your hard work get flushed down the tubes.
That’s exactly what happened when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the fact nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, but it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to low prices– check out the genuine cost.
Read the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” truly suggests.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements available? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Find individuals with nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a system that in fact works the method it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project monitoring tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however wonderful for client partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their biggest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t act otherwise.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or even worse, encourage your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned as well difficult to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that just function.