So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) Is GoHighLevel Easy To Learn.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying whatever under one roof seems like a performance dream. But let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I want someone had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked terrific.
I imply, Keap handled whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, however it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, yet it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy things disorder. Yep. It’s actual. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Changing: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole tech stack is ruthless. I want I might inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a peek of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Restore a lots automations from square one– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near to 40 hours adjusting setups and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental energy it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after staring at your display for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I told myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Crumbling
Initially, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong team of calls. Totally unnecessary web content. 3 days in a row. And not the same people either– various batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their response? “Server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to run the risk of one more screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Stress
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple task, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You need to gain access to three different setup panels– spread across the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wanted to love the adaptability, yet everything about the user experience made me seem like I required a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not picture what it’s like for someone simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out with their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little fees that begin accumulating. I saw arbitrary $10 costs appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution costs via Mailgun, their email company.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less reliability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Is GoHighLevel Easy To Learn.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of type of email marketing, you know how essential deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, constructing depend on, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles enjoying your hard work get purged down the drain.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to hardly scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, a minimum of share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not thoughtlessly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the truth no person informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap wasn’t fancy, however it was strong. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– each time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– take a look at the real expense.
Check out the small print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unlimited” actually indicates.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the glowing testimonies around? They’re from affiliates trying to score a commission. Locate people with absolutely nothing to gain.
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 in fact works the means it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Outstanding automation, strong deliverability, and excellent support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task management tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however fantastic for customer partnership and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their most significant supporter. But it didn’t. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked also difficult to build something excellent. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick to devices that simply work.