So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Review exactly how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) When Was GoHighLevel Founded.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the concept of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system sounds like a performance dream. Yet let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the hype. And I wish a person had actually ordered me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you via my rollercoaster of a ride with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the switch, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something brand-new? Like when your favored pair of shoes all of a sudden feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– 5, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I indicate, Keap took care of whatever: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It simply clicked with the means I ran my service. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, but it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin looking at the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s genuine. And if you’re a business owner like me, you recognize specifically what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demonstrations and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Rate of Changing: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s entire tech pile is ruthless. I want I could inform you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was working on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a glimpse of what I really went through:
- Exported over 20,000 get in touches with from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a loads automations from the ground up– points like onboarding, email sequences, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project condition, and funnel over.
- Establish landing pages. Again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not forget the mental energy it sucked out of me. You recognize that worn down, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for as well long? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will be worth it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
At first, it looked like things were working. Automations were firing. Emails were going out. Funnels were online. I breathed out a little.
After that– disorder.
One early morning I awakened to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong team of calls. Totally unnecessary web content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– different batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore through the automation setups, deleted and rebuilt series, even reached out to sustain. Their feedback? “Web server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the e-mails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered too much to risk another error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to tweak a workflow. Simple task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that don’t make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places no one would logically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You need to access three various configuration panels– spread across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It seemed like constructing IKEA furnishings without directions. I wished to like the adaptability, however whatever about the customer experience made me feel like I needed a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is coming from somebody who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was battling, I can not visualize what it resembles for a person just beginning.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they do not promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little fees that start accumulating. I noticed arbitrary $10 charges turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery costs with Mailgun, their email service provider.
So what resembled an affordable, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and obtaining way less reliability in return.
That really felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me When Was GoHighLevel Founded.
Email Performance Tanked– And That Was the Straw that broke the camel’s back
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you know exactly how vital deliverability is. You invest years supporting your listing, building trust fund, tweak subject lines. So when your open rates leave a cliff, it resembles enjoying your effort get flushed down the drain.
That’s exactly what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to hardly scraping 10%. I modified subject lines, verified domains, heated up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel counts on third-party deliverability tools (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and returned to Keap.
So, Should You Utilize GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend it. Not if you’re trying to find something secure, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your track record, your client experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at least share your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly rely on the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Below’s the fact nobody tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what jobs– unless there’s an excellent reason to switch over.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was solid. That’s worth greater than any kind of new feature.
2. Simpleness beats intricacy– every time.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is much better than a Monster system that does 100% badly.
3. Don’t succumb to affordable price– consider the actual expense.
Read the fine print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “limitless” truly suggests.
4. Watch out for biased reviews.
A lot of the glowing endorsements available? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a compensation. Locate people with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your intestine.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re looking for a platform that really functions the method it assures, check these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and terrific assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent job monitoring tools for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet terrific for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. And if it worked faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their greatest cheerleader. Yet it didn’t. And I can’t make believe otherwise.
So prior to you dive into a major movement– or even worse, convince your clients to do the exact same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned too hard to build something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my two cents? Stick with devices that just function.