So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Possibly you’ve seen the glowing reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) Shaun Clark GoHighLevel.
I get it. The assurance is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of improving everything under one roof covering seems like a performance desire. Yet let me stop you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I want someone had gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic starts to a complete 180. If you’re seriously thinking about making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of frustrations.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that crave something new? Like when your favorite set of footwear suddenly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been making use of Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it functioned fantastic.
I indicate, Keap managed every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my service. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, however it was reputable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the flashy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re losing out. And before I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Changing: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology pile is brutal. I want I can inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from square one– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental power it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for also long? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will be worth it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Crumbling
At first, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a headache: 171 emails had actually been sent out to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Entirely irrelevant material. 3 days straight. And not the exact same people either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to sustain. Their response? “Web server issue.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No necessity. No liability. And the emails simply kept heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to take the chance of an additional screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me paint you a photo. You’re attempting to fine-tune a workflow. Basic job, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position no person would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You need to gain access to three various arrangement panels– spread across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wished to like the adaptability, but 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 ‘d been running automations and building funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not imagine what it resembles for somebody simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel costs per email you send out through their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little costs that start piling up. I saw random $10 costs turning up– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment fees with Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what resembled an inexpensive, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and obtaining means less dependability in return.
That really felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Shaun Clark GoHighLevel.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of sort of email marketing, you recognize how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, constructing depend on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort obtain purged down the tubes.
That’s precisely what took place when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, verified domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much support), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I couldn’t justify staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I would not suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something stable, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your track record, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the fact no one tells you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, yet it was strong. That’s worth more than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– whenever.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to low cost– consider the genuine cost.
Check out the fine print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “endless” actually suggests.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the radiant testimonies around? They’re from associates trying to score a compensation. Locate individuals with nothing to obtain.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re trying to find a system that in fact functions the means it promises, examine these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with great project monitoring devices for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Ideal if you’re scaling quick.
Monday— More project-focused, yet terrific for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their most significant supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not act or else.
So before you dive into a major movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the difficult inquiries. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually worked as well tough to develop something wonderful. Do not risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that just function.