So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out just how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) SaaSPRENEUR Powered by HighLevel.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving whatever under one roof seems like an efficiency dream. However let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I wish a person had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from hopeful starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll save 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 preferred set of footwear all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it functioned excellent.
I suggest, Keap took care of every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my business. Sure, it wasn’t excellent, yet it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I start looking at the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of shiny object disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize precisely what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel demonstrations and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s entire technology pile is harsh. I wish I could tell you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I in fact experienced:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting setups and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after staring at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it looked like things were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– chaos.
One morning I awakened to a problem: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong group of calls. Entirely unimportant web content. 3 days straight. And not the very same people either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore via the automation setups, removed and restored series, also reached out to support. Their action? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails just kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything crucial. My audience mattered way too much to risk an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me paint you a picture. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Simple task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no one would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even get me started. You need to gain access to 3 different arrangement panels– scattered across the user interface– to upgrade a solitary funnel.
It felt like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I wished to love the versatility, yet everything concerning the customer experience made me seem like I needed a designer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from someone who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can’t imagine what it resembles for somebody simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send via their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that start accumulating. I discovered arbitrary $10 costs appearing– after that $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up distribution costs via Mailgun, their e-mail provider.
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 obtaining means less integrity in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me SaaSPRENEUR Powered by HighLevel.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You invest years nurturing your listing, building trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates hand over a high cliff, it’s like viewing your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s exactly 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, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much advice), I was left playing e-mail roulette.
At that point, I could not validate staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your track record, your customer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still interested, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the truth no one informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t fancy, yet it was solid. That’s worth greater than any new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– every time.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Don’t succumb to small cost– look at the actual expense.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” actually indicates.
4. Look out for prejudiced reviews.
A lot of the radiant testimonies around? They’re from associates attempting to score a payment. Discover individuals with nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re trying to find a platform that in fact functions the method it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Amazing automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project management tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however fantastic for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Built for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can not make believe otherwise.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, persuade your customers to do the same– breathe. Ask the tough inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked as well hard to build something terrific. Don’t risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick with tools that simply function.