So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the glowing evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) What Is GoHighLevel SaaS.
I get it. The guarantee is tempting: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of simplifying every little thing under one roof seems like a productivity dream. But let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the hype. And I want someone had grabbed me by the shoulders and said: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Checked Out GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes unexpectedly really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be specific. And truthfully, it worked great.
I suggest, Keap dealt with whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my company. Certain, it had not been excellent, but it was dependable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, however it gets you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of shiny object syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you understand exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are humming regarding a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Rate of Switching: What It Truly Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology stack is ruthless. I desire I might inform you I just clicked a button and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Right here’s a peek of what I in fact underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from scratch– things like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This discomfort will certainly deserve it.” It wasn’t.
When It All Started Breaking Down
In the beginning, it resembled points were functioning. Automations were firing. Emails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– disorder.
One early morning I woke up to a headache: 171 emails had been sent out to the incorrect team of get in touches with. Entirely unnecessary web content. Three days straight. And not the same individuals either– different batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, removed and restored series, also connected to support. Their feedback? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered too much to risk an additional screw-up.
Bad UX = Slow Fatality by Frustration
Let me repaint you an image. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Easy task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position no person would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even obtain me started. You have to accessibility 3 various configuration panels– spread throughout the interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It seemed like assembling IKEA furniture without instructions. I wished to like the versatility, yet every little thing regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a designer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t imagine what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they do not advertise plainly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that begin accumulating. I saw random $10 fees turning up– then $20 … after that $50. Turns out, I was racking up distribution costs via Mailgun, their e-mail supplier.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less integrity in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me What Is GoHighLevel SaaS.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you understand just how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your checklist, developing count on, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like seeing your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I tweaked subject lines, verified domain names, warmed up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not warrant staying. I ended and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re seeking something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your online reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test everything. Don’t blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Errors).
Here’s the fact no one informs you when you’re chasing the next “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s an excellent factor to change.
Keap had not been flashy, however it was solid. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness beats complexity– whenever.
An intuitive device that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to low prices– consider the real price.
Read the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” actually suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for prejudiced evaluations.
A lot of the radiant endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a compensation. Locate individuals with absolutely nothing to gain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a system that in fact works the method it guarantees, examine these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and fantastic assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with fantastic job monitoring devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, yet fantastic for client cooperation and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, super structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the answer to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d most likely be their largest cheerleader. Yet it really did not. And I can not make believe or else.
So prior to you dive into a full-scale movement– or worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– breathe. Ask the tough inquiries. And think about whether the “all-in-one” desire deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too hard to construct something terrific. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that just work.