So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Become aware of the all-in-one magic. Read how it might change your CRM, your e-mail marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) Is GoHighLevel HIPAA Compliant.
I get it. The pledge is tempting: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of enhancing whatever under one roofing seems like an efficiency dream. But let me stop you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I want somebody had actually grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something brand-new? Like when your favorite pair of footwear all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be exact. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I imply, Keap took care of everything: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my service. Certain, it wasn’t excellent, however it was trusted. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole technology stack is harsh. I wish I might inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glance of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for also lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Crumbling
At first, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were live. I exhaled a little.
After that– disorder.
One early morning I got up to a nightmare: 171 emails had been sent to the wrong team of get in touches with. Entirely pointless material. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation settings, removed and reconstructed series, also reached out to sustain. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No accountability. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered excessive to risk an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Frustration
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in places no person would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me started. You have to gain access to 3 different arrangement panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wished to love the adaptability, yet whatever concerning the user experience made me feel like I needed a designer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t envision what it’s like for a person just getting going.
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. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that begin piling up. I observed arbitrary $10 charges appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring delivery charges with Mailgun, their email company.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting means less reliability in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Is GoHighLevel HIPAA Compliant.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any type of email marketing, you understand just how essential deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, developing trust, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain purged down the drain.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, yet it was solid. That deserves greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– every time.
An instinctive tool that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not fall for low cost– look at the genuine expense.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” really indicates.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies around? They’re from affiliates trying to rack up a commission. Find people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re searching for a platform that in fact functions the way it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic task management devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, but great for customer collaboration and job tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to everything. And if it functioned perfectly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can not make believe or else.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And consider whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned also difficult to build something fantastic. Do not risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just function.