Drop Funnel

So, you’ve jumped into GoHighLevel (GHL) and the dashboard’s hitting you like a neon-lit bar fight—buttons everywhere, and you’re already sweating. It’s easy to screw up when you’re new, and trust me, I’ve got the scars to prove it. Back in 2019, I was a scrappy freelancer setting up GHL for my pal Mike’s gym, trying to save his lead-chasing mess—napkins for a CRM, emails lost in the ether, you name it. Five years later, at 5:52 PM on a Friday in June 2025, I’m still using GHL to keep my gigs humming, but I learned the hard way what not to do. This guide’s for newbies who want to skip the headaches I had, like when I broke a funnel and spent hours cussing. GHL’s like a dive bar toolbox—CRM, funnels, emails, texts, bookings, all in one spot—but it’s got traps for the unwary. Let’s walk through five common mistakes new users make, why they suck, and how to dodge ‘em, with enough barroom grit to make you feel like you’re dodging the sticky floor with me.

What’s GoHighLevel, Quick and Raw?

GHL’s a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform launched in 2018 by Shaun Clark and Varun Vairavan, built for agencies, freelancers, and small businesses like Mike’s. It’s like a beat-up Leatherman for marketing and sales—CRM, funnels, emails, SMS, bookings, payments, all crammed into one dashboard. It grabs leads, keeps ‘em warm, and turns ‘em into cash with automation that doesn’t make you wanna scream. SupplyGem calls it a chaos-slaying beast, and it cut my tool costs by $80/month back in the day. Core features:

• CRM & Pipelines: Tracks leads like a hound on a scent.
• Funnels & Sites: Builds pages or sites, no coding bullshit.
• Emails & Texts: Fires off campaigns to stop leads from ghosting.
• Bookings: Calendars for appointments without email tag.
• Payments: Grabs cash via Stripe or PayPal.
• White-Labeling: Rebrands as your software to sell.
• AI Tools: Automates chats and bookings like a robot barback.

Here are five rookie mistakes I see all the time (and made myself), plus how to avoid ‘em so you don’t end up like me, cursing at a laptop in a bar parking lot.

Mistake 1: Skipping the Onboarding Wizard

You log into GHL and see the setup wizard—business name, logo, integrations—and think, “I’ll figure it out later.” Big mistake. I did this in 2019, acting like a hotshot, and spent two days lost in menus, trying to set up Mike’s gym without a clue.

Why It’s a Problem

• The wizard’s your bar guide, setting up your account in 10 minutes—branding, integrations (Twilio, Mailgun), and dashboard basics. Skipping it’s like walking into a bar blindfolded.
• Without it, you miss key steps like connecting your email or phone number, delaying campaigns. Fahimai.com says it’s “critical for new users.”
• You waste hours wandering, like I did, when you could be building funnels.

How to Avoid It

• Run the Wizard: When you sign up at gohighlevel.com, follow the onboarding prompts. Enter your biz details, logo, and current tools (e.g., Mailchimp).
• Connect Integrations Early: Link Twilio for SMS and Mailgun for email in “Settings > Integrations.” Takes 5 minutes.
• Watch the Videos: GHL’s YouTube onboarding series walks you through the wizard. I watched one video and saved a day of grief.

My Bar Fight: I skipped the wizard, thinking I’d wing it. Couldn’t send SMS for Mike’s gym because Twilio wasn’t set up. Lost a week. Don’t be a dumbass—use the wizard.

Mistake 2: Not Testing Workflows Before Going Live

You build a slick workflow—say, texting leads after they fill a form—and hit “publish” without testing. I did this for a client’s spa, and the SMS went to the wrong leads, pissing off 20 people.

Why It’s a Problem

• Workflows automate emails, texts, or pipeline moves, but one wrong trigger (e.g., “Form Filled” instead of “Lead Tagged”) can spam the wrong folks or crash. SupplyGem says testing is “non-negotiable.”
• Untested workflows can break campaigns or lose leads. My spa client’s botched SMS cost her a day’s bookings.
• Debugging live workflows is a nightmare, like fixing a bar’s tap during happy hour.

How to Avoid It

• Test with Fake Leads: Create a test contact (e.g., “Testy McTestface”) and run them through your funnel. I test every workflow now by submitting a fake form.
• Use Preview Mode: In “Automation > Workflows,” toggle to “Draft” and simulate triggers. Fahimai.com suggests this to catch errors.
• Check Triggers: Double-check conditions (e.g., “Form = Contact Form”). HighLevel’s support portal has a trigger guide.
• Start Simple: Build one action (e.g., send email) before adding SMS or pipeline moves.

My Bar Fight: I didn’t test a workflow and sent “Book your yoga class!” to a client’s entire list, including non-leads. Got chewed out. Test everything, always.

Mistake 3: Ignoring the Conversations Tab

The “Conversations” tab is your unified inbox—SMS, email, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs—but newbies ignore it, thinking their regular email’s enough. I did this for Mike’s gym and missed a lead’s text, losing a $300 membership.

Why It’s a Problem

• Leads message across channels—SMS, social, email—and “Conversations” catches them all. Missing it’s like ignoring a bar patron waving cash.
• You lose leads who prefer SMS or Instagram DMs. SupplyGem says 60% of leads use non-email channels in 2025.
• Scattered messages mean missed opportunities or pissed-off clients.

How to Avoid It

• Check Daily: Open “Conversations” in the sidebar to see all messages. Set notifications for new texts or DMs.
• Use AI (Pro Plan): Conversation AI auto-replies or books calls. I set it for a client’s salon, saving 2 hours/week.
• Filter by Channel: Sort by SMS or Instagram to focus. Fahimai.com loves this for quick replies.
• Tag Leads: Add tags (e.g., “Hot Lead”) in Conversations to track who’s who.

My Bar Fight: I ignored “Conversations” for a week, thinking Gmail covered it. Missed a lead’s DM, and they signed with a competitor. Check it like your bar tab.

Mistake 4: Choosing the Wrong Pricing Plan

GHL’s plans—Starter ($97/month), Unlimited ($297/month), Agency Pro ($497/month)—fit different hustles, but newbies pick the wrong one. I started on Starter for an agency with five clients and hit a wall fast.

Why It’s a Problem

• Starter Limits: Only 3 sub-accounts, no white-labeling. Fine for solo folks, but agencies with 4+ clients get stuck. SupplyGem warns about this.
• Unlimited Overkill: $297/month is steep if you’re a lone coach with one business. I saw a newbie waste $200/month on features they didn’t need.
• Pro Prematurely: $497/month for SaaS mode is a cash-burner if you don’t have clients ready to buy your rebranded GHL.
• Picking wrong means overspending or upgrading mid-month, like I did, costing $200 extra.

How to Avoid It

• Match Your Hustle: Solo or 1-3 clients? Starter ($97). 4+ clients? Unlimited ($297). SaaS reselling? Pro ($497).
• Test with Trial: Use the 14-day trial (or 30-day promo) at gohighlevel.com to test features. I tried all plans in a week.
• Plan for Growth: Start with Starter if you’re small, but upgrade to Unlimited before adding a fourth client.
• Ask the Community: GHL’s 60,000+ user Facebook group or X posts have plan advice. I got tips from X to pick Unlimited.

My Bar Fight: I chose Starter for an agency with five clients, hit the 3-sub-account limit, and had to upgrade mid-month. Burned $200. Count your clients first.

Mistake 5: Not Using Templates or Resources

GHL’s got pre-built funnels, workflows, and tutorials, but newbies try to build everything from scratch, like I did for Mike’s gym. Took me three days to make a funnel that a template could’ve done in 20 minutes.

Why It’s a Problem

• Building from scratch wastes hours and leads to janky campaigns. SupplyGem says templates are “designed to convert.”
• GHL’s resources—YouTube videos, Facebook group, support portal—are gold, but newbies ignore them, thinking they’ll wing it.
• You reinvent the wheel instead of using proven setups, risking low conversion rates.

How to Avoid It

• Use Templates: In “Funnels” or “Workflows,” pick pre-built templates (e.g., “Lead Magnet Funnel”). I used one for Mike’s gym and got 50 leads in a week.
• Watch Tutorials: GHL’s YouTube onboarding series covers basics in 20 minutes. Fahimai.com suggests starting here.
• Join the Community: The 60,000+ user Facebook group or X posts share hacks like mobile-optimized funnels. I learned SMS tricks from X.
• Check Support Portal: help.gohighlevel.com has guides for every feature. Saved me when I botched a pipeline.

My Bar Fight: I built a funnel from scratch for a client’s spa, and it looked like a drunk’s doodle. A template would’ve saved me three days and doubled conversions. Use the damn templates.

Bonus Tips to Keep Your Hustle Tight

• Test Everything: Send test emails, fake bookings, or $1 payments to catch glitches. I test every funnel now.
• Customize the Dashboard: Drag widgets to show leads or bookings only. Took me 5 minutes to set for Mike.
• Budget for Add-Ons: SMS ($0.015/message) and email ($0.675/1,000) costs add up. I spent $20/month for Mike’s campaigns.
• Learn from Others: X posts and the GHL Facebook group are like bar regulars with all the secrets.

Why Avoiding These Saves Your Ass

Dodging these mistakes saves time, cash, and sanity. GHL’s dashboard is a beast, but it’s your beast—master it, and it’s like running the bar. For Mike’s gym, fixing these errors cut admin time by 6 hours/week and boosted sign-ups by 15%. HighLevel’s site claims 60,000+ users, and X posts hype its automation, like folks calling it their oldest tool. Avoid these traps, and you’ll be pouring profits, not spilling them.

Kick the Tires

1. Grab a Trial: Hit gohighlevel.com for a 14-day trial (or 30-day via promos).
2. Follow the Wizard: Run the onboarding setup to nail basics in 10 minutes.
3. Test Small: Build one funnel, one workflow, and test with fake leads.
4. Lean on Resources: GHL’s YouTube, Facebook group, or X posts are your bar buddies.

Last Call

GHL’s a game-changer, but newbies trip on skipping the wizard, not testing workflows, ignoring Conversations, picking the wrong plan, or shunning templates. I made all these mistakes, and they cost me time, leads, and $200. The dashboard’s a bar brawl, and bugs like a frozen funnel made me wanna smash a glass, but it’s been my go-to since 2019, like some X folks who swear by it as their oldest tool. Start with the trial at gohighlevel.com, test everything, and use the damn resources. Stuck? Hit the GHL Facebook group or X for quick tips. I’m a holler away on X—let’s keep your hustle from spilling.