So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review how it can change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) How Many People Use GoHighLevel.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roof sounds like a productivity dream. Yet let me stop you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I wish somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it worked excellent.
I imply, Keap handled everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, however it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology pile is harsh. I wish I can tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental energy it drew out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
Initially, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had been sent out to the wrong group of calls. Entirely unnecessary content. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and reconstructed sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their response? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered too much to take the chance of another screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t 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 access 3 different arrangement panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like setting up IKEA furniture without directions. I wished to enjoy the adaptability, but whatever about the customer experience made me feel like I required a designer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can’t envision what it’s like for somebody just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out via their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little charges that start accumulating. I discovered random $10 charges appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery fees with Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less integrity in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me How Many People Use GoHighLevel.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how essential deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your checklist, building depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a high cliff, it’s like viewing your effort obtain purged away.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your credibility, your customer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the truth no one tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– take a look at the genuine expense.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” really indicates.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A lot of the radiant testimonials around? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Discover people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a system that really works the means it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic project monitoring devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, however wonderful for customer collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to every little thing. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their largest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can not pretend or else.
So prior to you study a major movement– or even worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned also tough 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 to devices that simply work.