So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Read about the all-in-one magic. Read how it might change your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (sort of) Where To Purchase GoHighLevel.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of enhancing every little thing under one roof seems like a performance dream. However let me quit you right there … because I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish someone had ordered me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this write-up, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously taking into consideration making the button, read this very first. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever obtain that itch for something new? Like when your favored set of footwear instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been utilizing Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be precise. And truthfully, it worked excellent.
I mean, Keap dealt with everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my business. Certain, it had not been best, yet it was reputable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it obtains you where you require to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the showy new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item disorder. 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 groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you start asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your firm’s whole technology stack is harsh. I wish I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Below’s a look of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Restore a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, email series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every customer note, project standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent near to 40 hours fiddling with settings and screening workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental energy it drew out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried sensation after looking at your screen for too 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 looked like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were going out. Funnels were live. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I woke up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the wrong group of calls. Entirely pointless material. Three days straight. And not the very same individuals either– various batches each time. I was alarmed.
I tore with the automation settings, erased and restored series, even connected to sustain. Their reaction? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No responsibility. And the e-mails just maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on autopilot.
At that point, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to take the chance of one more screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Settings are concealed in position nobody would rationally look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t even obtain me started. You need to access three various configuration panels– spread across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It felt like setting up IKEA furniture without instructions. I wanted to like the adaptability, yet whatever regarding the individual experience made me seem like I required a designer resting next to me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not imagine what it resembles for a person simply starting.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel costs per e-mail you send via their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are stealthy little charges that begin piling up. I saw random $10 costs popping up– then $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery costs with Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what resembled a budget-friendly, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing greater than I did on Keap– and getting means less reliability in return.
That felt deceitful. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Where To Purchase GoHighLevel.
Email Efficiency Tanked– And That Was the Last Straw
If you do any type of e-mail marketing, you understand exactly how important deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, developing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work obtain flushed down the tubes.
That’s precisely what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open prices fell from around 35% to barely scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domains, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Honestly? I wouldn’t advise it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at risk– your reputation, your customer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still interested, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Examination whatever. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the fact no person informs you when you’re chasing after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s a very good reason to switch over.
Keap wasn’t showy, however it was strong. That deserves more than any type of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster platform that does 100% severely.
3. Do not succumb to affordable price– look at the genuine expense.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unlimited” truly suggests.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A lot of the glowing endorsements around? They’re from associates attempting to score a payment. Locate people with absolutely nothing to obtain.
5. Pay attention to your gut.
If something feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re seeking a system that in fact works the means it guarantees, check these out:.
Keap– My top choice. Fantastic automation, solid deliverability, and excellent assistance.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful job monitoring devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling quickly.
Monday— Even more project-focused, but terrific for customer collaboration and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, extremely streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned faultlessly, I ‘d probably be their biggest supporter. Yet it didn’t. And I can not claim otherwise.
So before you dive into a full-scale migration– or even worse, persuade your clients to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the difficult concerns. And take into consideration whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world trade-offs.
You’ve functioned as well difficult to develop something wonderful. Don’t risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that simply function.