So– you’ve been eyeing GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you’ve seen the glowing testimonials. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Review how it might change your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (kind of) Why Choose GoHighLevel For Your Business.
I get it. The assurance is tempting: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of streamlining every little thing under one roof covering sounds like an efficiency desire. Yet let me quit you right there … due to the fact that I succumbed to the buzz. And I wish a person had grabbed me by the shoulders and stated: “Do not do it.”
In this short article, I’m walking you through my rollercoaster of an experience with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, money, and a truckload of migraines.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Considered GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your favorite set of shoes all of a sudden really feels … boring? That’s what took place to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you might remember it as Infusionsoft) for many years– five, to be specific. And honestly, it worked fantastic.
I suggest, Keap managed every little thing: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the means I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t excellent, however it was reliable. Like a great old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, yet it gets you where you need to do without breaking down.
So why did I begin considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Because of glossy item syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you recognize exactly what I’m speaking about. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing about a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re missing out. And before I understood it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and thinking, “Possibly it’s time.”
Big. Blunder.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– migrating your agency’s whole technology stack is brutal. I desire I might tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was operating on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Right here’s a look of what I actually went through:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from scratch– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Relocated every client note, job condition, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not fail to remember the mental power it sucked out of me. You understand that tired, brain-fried feeling after looking at your display for also long? That was my life for 2 weeks straight.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When Everything Began Crumbling
Initially, it resembled points were working. Automations were shooting. Emails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– mayhem.
One morning I woke up to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the wrong group of get in touches with. Entirely irrelevant web content. 3 days in a row. And not the exact same individuals either– various batches each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and reconstructed series, also reached out to support. Their response? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails simply kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done relying on GoHighLevel with anything essential. My target market mattered excessive to run the risk of another screw-up.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you an image. You’re attempting to modify a workflow. Simple job, right? Except currently you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in position nobody would realistically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. You need to gain access to three various configuration panels– scattered throughout the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without directions. I wanted to enjoy the adaptability, yet every little thing regarding the user experience made me seem like I required a developer resting beside me 24/7.
And this is coming from a person who had actually been running automations and constructing funnels for many years. If I was battling, I can not imagine what it’s like for somebody just starting.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Below’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel charges per e-mail you send out through their system.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little costs that start piling up. I observed random $10 costs appearing– after that $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was acquiring shipment costs via Mailgun, their e-mail service provider.
So what appeared like a budget-friendly, 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 integrity in return.
That felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Why Choose GoHighLevel For Your Business.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of email marketing, you know just how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your list, building trust fund, adjust subject lines. So when your open prices leave a high cliff, it resembles watching your effort obtain purged away.
That’s exactly what took place when I changed to GoHighLevel.
My open rates fell from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I fine-tuned subject lines, confirmed domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after email landed in spam or promos folders. And since GoHighLevel relies upon third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing email roulette.
At that point, I could not warrant staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Use GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re looking for something stable, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your track record, your customer experience, your bottom line.
However if you’re still curious, at the very least share your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Do not blindly trust the hype.
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the truth nobody informs you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent reason to change.
Keap wasn’t showy, but it was solid. That’s worth more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity defeats intricacy– every single time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is better than a Monster platform that does 100% badly.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– consider the actual expense.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability fees. Know what “unrestricted” really suggests.
4. Look out for prejudiced evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonies available? They’re from affiliates attempting to score a compensation. Discover people with nothing to acquire.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off throughout your free trial or onboarding phase– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a system that in fact functions the method it assures, examine these out:.
Keap– My top pick. Impressive automation, strong deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with terrific task monitoring devices for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a refined UX. Suitable if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, yet wonderful for customer cooperation and task monitoring.
Bonsai— Developed for consultants and creatives. Super tidy, extremely structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the solution to whatever. And if it functioned flawlessly, I ‘d possibly be their greatest cheerleader. However it really did not. And I can’t act otherwise.
So prior to you study a major movement– or worse, encourage your customers to do the very same– take a breath. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually functioned too hard to build something wonderful. Do not risk it on a platform that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with devices that just function.