So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you have actually seen the glowing testimonials. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) How To Use GoHighLevel.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving every little thing under one roofing system seems like a productivity desire. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I desire someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your favorite pair of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I imply, Keap handled every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the method I ran my organization. Certain, it had not been perfect, but it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand specifically what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology pile is brutal. I desire I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Restore a lots automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the psychological power it sucked out of me. You know that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Falling Apart
At first, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent to the incorrect group of contacts. Completely pointless material. Three days straight. And not the very same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and restored series, also connected to support. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of one more error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You have to gain access to three various configuration panels– scattered throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without guidelines. I intended to love the flexibility, however every little thing about the individual experience made me seem like I needed a developer sitting next to me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out with their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that begin piling up. I observed random $10 fees turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring distribution costs with Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means much less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me How To Use GoHighLevel.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of kind of email marketing, you know how crucial deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, constructing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices drop off a cliff, it’s like viewing your hard work obtain purged down the drain.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your credibility, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the truth no person tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was strong. That’s worth greater than any new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– every time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Don’t fall for low cost– look at the actual cost.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability costs. Know what “endless” truly suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased testimonials.
A great deal of the beautiful testimonies around? They’re from affiliates trying to score a commission. Locate people with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a platform that actually works the way it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Incredible automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project administration tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but great for customer cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can’t claim otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-scale movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also difficult to construct something great. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with tools that just work.