So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) How To Host Clients Website with GoHighLevel.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the idea of simplifying everything under one roof covering seems like a productivity dream. Yet let me stop you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned terrific.
I mean, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t ideal, however it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item syndrome. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your firm’s entire technology pile is ruthless. I wish I could inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I actually experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours adjusting settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Crumbling
In the beginning, it looked like points were working. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– turmoil.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect team of contacts. Entirely unnecessary web content. Three days straight. And not the very same individuals either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore with the automation setups, erased and reconstructed sequences, even connected to sustain. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of one more error.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Irritation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me began. You need to accessibility three different arrangement panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without instructions. I intended to enjoy the adaptability, however whatever about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can’t imagine what it’s like for a person just getting going.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t market plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that begin piling up. I observed random $10 fees appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was acquiring distribution fees with Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what resembled an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining method less dependability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me How To Host Clients Website with GoHighLevel.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of e-mail marketing, you understand just how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, building trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get purged away.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your profits.
But if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the fact no person tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, but it was solid. That deserves greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– take a look at the actual expense.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” really implies.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the radiant reviews around? They’re from associates attempting to score a commission. Find individuals with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that really functions the means it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Incredible automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task administration devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet fantastic for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely 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 most significant supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-blown movement– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also tough to build something wonderful. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with tools that simply function.