So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it could change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) Make Money with GoHighLevel.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one effective dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of improving every little thing under one roofing system sounds like a performance desire. Yet let me stop you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I want somebody had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something brand-new? Like when your preferred set of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked excellent.
I suggest, Keap handled every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the way I ran my company. Certain, it wasn’t perfect, but it was reliable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the fancy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know precisely what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech stack is ruthless. I want I could inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a lots automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, task status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the psychological energy it drew out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for too lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Crumbling
Initially, it appeared like things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One early morning I woke up to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong group of get in touches with. Entirely irrelevant web content. Three days in a row. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was frightened.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and rebuilt series, also reached out to sustain. Their response? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My audience mattered way too much to risk another error.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Disappointment
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple job, right? Other than currently you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You have to gain access to three various setup panels– spread across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to like the adaptability, yet every little thing concerning the user experience made me seem like I required a designer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was struggling, I can not visualize what it resembles for somebody just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send out through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little fees that begin accumulating. I noticed random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up delivery fees via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending more than I did on Keap– and getting way less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Make Money with GoHighLevel.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of kind of e-mail marketing, you recognize just how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your list, constructing depend on, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it’s like seeing your effort obtain flushed away.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domains, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And considering that GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at risk– your credibility, your client experience, your bottom line.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Do not blindly trust the buzz.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s a great reason to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, but it was solid. That’s worth greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats intricacy– whenever.
An instinctive device that does 80% well is better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– take a look at the genuine expense.
Review the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” really implies.
4. Watch out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the beautiful reviews around? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a commission. Locate people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a system that actually functions the way it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great task monitoring tools for small groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but fantastic for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown movement– or worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned as well difficult to construct something excellent. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick with tools that just function.