So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the beautiful reviews. Read about the all-in-one magic. Check out exactly how it could change your CRM, your e-mail marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (type of) Why Should I Use GoHighLevel.
I get it. The pledge is alluring: one effective control panel to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the concept of streamlining every little thing under one roofing system seems like an efficiency desire. But let me quit you right there … because I fell for the hype. And I want someone had ordered me by the shoulders and claimed: “Do not do it.”
In this article, I’m strolling you with my rollercoaster of an adventure with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a full 180. If you’re seriously considering making the switch, read this initial. It’ll save you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Took A Look At GoHighLevel
You ever before obtain that crave something new? Like when your favored pair of shoes instantly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I ‘d been utilizing Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for years– five, to be exact. And truthfully, it worked wonderful.
I suggest, Keap dealt with every little thing: e-mail marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my company. Sure, it wasn’t ideal, yet it was reputable. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, but it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I start considering the showy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things syndrome. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m talking about. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS blog owners are buzzing regarding a “game-changer,” you begin asking yourself if you’re losing out. And before I recognized it, I was deep-diving into GoHighLevel trials and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Price of Switching: What It Truly Took
Allow’s not sugarcoat this– moving your company’s whole tech pile is ruthless. I desire I could tell you I simply clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Here’s a glimpse of what I really underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 contacts from Keap (manually).
- Rebuilt a dozen automations from scratch– points like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected repayment integrations like Stripe.
- Used near 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the psychological power it sucked out of me. You know that exhausted, brain-fried feeling after looking at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for two weeks directly.
I told myself, “This pain will certainly deserve it.” It had not been.
When All Of It Began Breaking Down
Initially, it appeared like things were functioning. Automations were firing. E-mails were going out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
After that– mayhem.
One early morning I got up to a problem: 171 e-mails had been sent to the incorrect group of get in touches with. Totally pointless web content. Three days in a row. And not the exact same people either– different sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation setups, erased and restored series, even connected to support. Their reaction? “Server concern.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No seriousness. No accountability. And the e-mails simply kept heading out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything important. My target market mattered way too much to risk an additional error.
Poor UX = Slow Death by Aggravation
Let me repaint you an image. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Simple task, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are hidden in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not also get me started. You need to accessibility 3 different setup panels– spread across the interface– to update a solitary funnel.
It seemed like putting together IKEA furnishings without instructions. I wished to like the adaptability, but every little thing concerning the individual experience made me feel like I required a programmer resting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who had actually been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was struggling, I can’t envision what it resembles for someone simply getting started.
Shock Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel fees per email you send out with their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sly little charges that start piling up. I saw arbitrary $10 costs turning up– after that $20 … then $50. Turns out, I was acquiring delivery fees with Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what appeared like a budget-friendly, flat-rate system? Not so much. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting method less dependability in return.
That felt dishonest. And it’s a dealbreaker for me Why Should I Use GoHighLevel.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of e-mail marketing, you know how vital deliverability is. You spend years nurturing your listing, constructing trust, make improvements subject lines. So when your open rates drop off a cliff, it resembles viewing your hard work get purged down the tubes.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to hardly scuffing 10%. I modified subject lines, confirmed domain names, warmed up IPs– you name it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promotions folders. And because GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability tools (without much assistance), I was left playing e-mail live roulette.
At that point, I could not justify staying. I disengaged and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I wouldn’t suggest it. Not if you’re trying to find something stable, instinctive, and trustworthy. There’s too much at stake– your reputation, your consumer experience, your profits.
However if you’re still interested, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination everything. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the buzz.
Lessons Discovered (So You Do Not Repeat My Blunders).
Right here’s the reality nobody informs you when you’re chasing after the following “all-in-one” device:
1. Stick with what works– unless there’s an excellent factor to switch.
Keap had not been flashy, yet it was solid. That deserves greater than any kind of brand-new feature.
2. Simpleness defeats complexity– each time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Monster system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for small cost– consider the actual expense.
Check out the fine print. Ask about deliverability costs. Know what “unrestricted” really suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant testimonies around? They’re from associates trying to rack up a compensation. Locate people with nothing to get.
5. Listen to your gut.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding phase– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Take Into Consideration
If you’re searching for a system that really functions the means it promises, inspect these out:.
Keap– My leading pick. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and wonderful support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful task monitoring tools for little teams.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade tools with a refined UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— Even more project-focused, however wonderful for client collaboration and task tracking.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest supporter. Yet it really did not. And I can’t pretend or else.
So before you study a full-scale movement– or worse, encourage your customers to do the same– take a breath. Ask the hard inquiries. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked also difficult to develop something great. Don’t risk it on a system that still seems like a beta test.
If you desire my 2 cents? Stick to tools that just work.