So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the beautiful testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) What Does GoHighLevel Do.
I get it. The guarantee is alluring: one powerful control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a firm, the concept of enhancing everything under one roofing seems like a performance dream. Yet let me quit you right there … since I succumbed to the hype. And I want a person had actually gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this short article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from enthusiastic beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever get that crave something new? Like when your preferred set of shoes suddenly really feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– 5, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I suggest, Keap dealt with whatever: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my business. Certain, it had not been excellent, yet it was reliable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to glossy object 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 teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you start questioning if you’re losing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole technology pile is ruthless. I desire I could tell you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a glimpse of what I in fact went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Restore a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, project status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Used close to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological energy it drew out of me. You recognize that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When It All Began Falling Apart
At first, it looked like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the wrong group of calls. Entirely unimportant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, deleted and rebuilt series, even reached out to support. Their feedback? “Web server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply maintained going out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My audience mattered excessive to risk an additional error.
Bad UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You need to gain access to 3 various setup panels– scattered across the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furnishings without directions. I wanted to love the versatility, however every little thing concerning the customer experience made me feel like I needed a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for many years. If I was having a hard time, I can not picture what it resembles for somebody simply starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send out via their platform.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that begin piling up. I noticed random $10 fees popping up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution fees through Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what resembled an affordable, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining method much less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me What Does GoHighLevel Do.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Last lick
If you do any type of e-mail marketing, you recognize how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, building count on, fine-tuning subject lines. So when your open prices hand over a cliff, it resembles watching your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what occurred when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I couldn’t validate staying. I ended and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not advise it. Not if you’re seeking something secure, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your reputation, your client experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Right here’s the fact no person tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good factor to change.
Keap wasn’t flashy, however it was strong. That deserves greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats complexity– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– consider the genuine price.
Review the small print. Inquire about deliverability charges. Know what “limitless” actually suggests.
4. Watch out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant reviews available? They’re from associates attempting to score a payment. Locate people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re seeking a system that in fact functions the way it assures, inspect these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job administration devices for tiny teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet great for client cooperation and job tracking.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the response to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d possibly be their biggest cheerleader. But it didn’t. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So before you study a full-scale migration– or even worse, convince your clients to do the very same– breathe. Ask the hard concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world trade-offs.
You have actually functioned too difficult to develop something excellent. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that simply function.