So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it could replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) Is GoHighLevel a SaaS Platform.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of streamlining every little thing under one roof covering sounds like a productivity dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I desire someone had gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your favored pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And honestly, it worked great.
I mean, Keap managed everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, however it was trusted. Like an excellent 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 new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you start wondering if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology stack is harsh. I desire I might tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When All Of It Started Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I exhaled a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Entirely unnecessary web content. Three days straight. And not the exact same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt sequences, even connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No liability. And the emails simply maintained going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered excessive to risk another screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Stress
Let me paint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also obtain me started. You have to accessibility three different configuration panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to like the versatility, however every little thing concerning the customer experience made me seem like I needed a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for many years. If I was struggling, I can not imagine what it’s like for somebody just getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t promote plainly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that begin piling up. I discovered random $10 fees popping up– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery costs through Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what looked like a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting method much less dependability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Is GoHighLevel a SaaS Platform.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any kind of type of email marketing, you recognize just how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, constructing count on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a high cliff, it resembles watching your effort get flushed down the tubes.
That’s specifically what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, validated domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your online reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the truth no person tells you when you’re chasing the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– take a look at the real expense.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” really implies.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the glowing reviews around? They’re from affiliates trying to score a commission. Find people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a platform that really functions the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and great assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job management devices for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however excellent for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d probably be their largest supporter. However it didn’t. And I can not act otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a major migration– or worse, encourage your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the difficult concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also tough to develop something fantastic. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick to tools that just work.