So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Review just how it could change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) How Many Websites Can You Host on GoHighLevel.
I get it. The promise is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of enhancing everything under one roof covering sounds like an efficiency desire. However let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I desire a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this first. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked fantastic.
I indicate, Keap managed whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my service. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but it was dependable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s whole tech stack is harsh. I wish I can tell you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological power it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Breaking Down
In the beginning, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect team of contacts. Completely unnecessary content. Three days straight. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and reconstructed sequences, also connected to support. Their response? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you a picture. You’re trying to fine-tune a workflow. Basic task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You need to access 3 different configuration panels– spread across the user interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to love the adaptability, however everything regarding the customer experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it’s like for someone just getting going.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not market plainly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little costs that begin accumulating. I discovered random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up delivery fees through Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way much less integrity in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me How Many Websites Can You Host on GoHighLevel.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of sort of email marketing, you understand just how essential deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, developing trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a high cliff, it’s like watching your hard work get purged away.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability devices (without much assistance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your reputation, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact no person informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, but it was strong. That deserves more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– take a look at the real price.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” actually means.
4. Look out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonies available? They’re from associates trying to rack up a commission. Locate people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that actually functions the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task administration devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— More project-focused, yet fantastic for client collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the answer to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t claim or else.
So before you dive into a full-blown movement– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the difficult inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned as well tough to build something wonderful. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that simply work.