We built a lot of sites. Over time we moved from WordPress to Go High Level. It sounds simple, but there are real reasons behind it. We want speed in our work. We want fewer updates. We want systems that are easier to manage. WordPress can do a lot, but it also brings many headaches. Go High Level gives us a simpler path. It also brings one trade off: page speed. In this post we explain what we saw, why we made the switch, and how we make Go High Level sites perform well enough for SEO and for people.
Table of Contents
Why we moved to Go High Level
We wanted a tool that lets us build fast for clients and for our own sites. With Go High Level we can roll out pages fast. The editor is easier to use. We can manage funnels, forms, and landing pages in one place. That saves time. It also cuts down on the number of tools we must maintain.
WordPress used to be the go-to. It gives flexibility and many plugins. But it needs constant care. Updates, plugin issues, and theme changes add up. We found ourselves spending more time fixing sites than growing our business. That is why we looked for an easier option. Go High Level felt like a breath of fresh air.
Does slower page speed hurt SEO?
One of the first questions we heard was about SEO. People asked: does the slower page speed on Go High Level hurt rankings? The short answer is: maybe, but not enough to make us switch back to WordPress.
Page speed does matter for SEO. Google looks at loading time. Fast pages help user experience. But many things factor into ranking. Content quality, links, local signals, and on-page SEO are all part of the mix. For many local sites, a small drop in speed is not the main ranking issue.
We think of page speed as part of a bigger picture. If a site is slow but has strong content and strong local signals, it can still rank well. If a site is fast but lacks good content or links, speed alone will not save it.
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Why Go High Level can feel slower
Page builders often add extra code to make editing easy. That code can slow pages. Go High Level is a page builder at its core. It has scripts, styles, and features that load on the page.
So yes, heavy code can make pages slower. But that is not a fatal flaw. It is something we can manage. We just make smarter choices when we build and when we add media.
Why WordPress felt like a nightmare
We still use WordPress sometimes. But we hate the constant updates. The plugins change. The admin looks different every few months. New themes bring new settings. It adds up.
We recently set up a WordPress site for an AI podcast project. We handed it to a developer to skin the theme. When the site was done, we logged in and had no idea how to edit the new theme. It was that bad. We had not built in WordPress for so long that the interface felt foreign.
We do not like the worry of plugins breaking. We do not like the time it takes to keep things secure. That is why we would rather pay a developer to update a WordPress site than try to manage many of them ourselves. But when we have a choice, we pick Go High Level for ease of use and less maintenance.
How we speed up Go High Level sites
Even though Go High Level can be slower out of the box, there are several simple fixes. We use these on every site we build. They keep the page load time acceptable. They help our users. They help search engines.
- Resize images before upload – We make sure images match the display size. We do not upload huge files and let the browser shrink them. That wastes bandwidth.
- Compress images – We use tools to lower file size while keeping quality. Smaller files mean faster loads.
- Lazy load images – We only load images when the user scrolls to them. That reduces initial page cost.
- Host images externally – We put images on Amazon S3 or another cloud bucket and link to them. That keeps the page builder from storing and serving many large files.
- Limit widgets and scripts – We avoid adding every extra block or plugin. Each add-on can add code and slow the site.
- Reduce font files – We stick to one or two fonts and use system fonts when possible.
- Use a CDN – If we can, we serve assets through a content delivery network. That helps global load times.
How we host images externally
One of the things we do a lot is host images on S3. We upload images to Amazon S3 or another cloud storage. Then we link to those images from the Go High Level pages. This has many benefits:
- It reduces the load on the page builder.
- It lets us cache images in a CDN.
- It gives us one place to manage and update images.
When we open an image in a new tab, we can see it is served from S3. That tells us the asset did not come from the page builder. This small change often moves the speed needle in the right direction.
Real trade offs we accept
We are honest about trade offs. Go High Level pages might be a bit slower than a tightly optimized WordPress build. But the time we save on updates, plugin fights, and theme edits is worth it. We value speed in our work not only for page load, but for how fast we can deliver a site to a client.
If we need a razor fast page for a big campaign that depends on milliseconds, we will put the work into optimization or use a different stack. For most local sites, agencies, and many landing pages, Go High Level is fast enough when we apply these optimizations.
Checklist we use before launch
- Resize and compress all images to the correct dimensions.
- Host large images and media on S3 or a similar service.
- Turn on lazy loading where possible.
- Cut unused widgets and scripts from the page.
- Limit third-party tracking scripts and fonts.
- Use a CDN for assets when we can.
- Test page speed and user experience on mobile and desktop.
- Prioritize content and local SEO elements like titles, meta, and citations.
When WordPress still wins
We do not say WordPress is dead. It still wins in some cases. If a site needs heavy custom code, complex database work, or special plugins, WordPress can be the right tool. It is also great for large blogs and complex sites where you need full control over every piece.
But for many businesses, especially local ones, the overhead of WordPress is not worth the time. We prefer a system that lets us build quickly and move on to other revenue tasks.
Final thoughts
We switched because we want to work faster. We want fewer maintenance tasks. We want a clean build flow. Yes, Go High Level can add some code overhead. Yes, page speed can suffer a little. But with a few smart moves we keep pages fast enough for users and search engines.
We would rather spend time growing our sites than fixing updates and chasing plugin conflicts. That is why we stick with Go High Level for most projects. It gives us speed in building and in business. For the rare projects that need high optimization, we take extra steps or use different tools. But for most work, the switch has been worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Does using Go High Level hurt our SEO because of slower page speed?
It can affect SEO a little, but not enough to outweigh the benefits for many sites. We find that content quality, local signals, and links matter more. We also use image optimization and hosting tricks to keep load times reasonable.
How do we make Go High Level pages load faster?
Resize and compress images, use lazy loading, host images on S3 or a CDN, limit extra scripts and widgets, and test on mobile. These steps cut page weight and improve initial load time.
Why do we still use WordPress sometimes?
WordPress is great for complex builds and custom code. If a project needs special plugins or deep customization, WordPress might be the right choice. We use it when the project demands full control.
Can hosting images externally really help?
Yes. Hosting images on S3 or a similar service reduces the load on the page builder. It lets us use a CDN and gives us one place to manage images. That often makes a noticeable speed difference.
Do we ever go back to WordPress full time?
Not for most projects. The maintenance burden, updates, and plugin issues make WordPress a poor fit for our workflow. We keep WordPress for special cases, but Go High Level handles the bulk of our builds now.
What if we need the fastest possible page speed?
If extreme speed matters, we will invest in more optimization or a different platform. For most local sites and landing pages, the optimizations we use on Go High Level are enough. For high stakes pages, we choose the stack that best fits the goals.
Want a quick checklist
- Check images: size, compression, hosting
- Remove extra widgets and scripts
- Use lazy loading
- Use a CDN for assets
- Test mobile speed and layout
We prefer one tool that makes our life easier. Go High Level gives us that. With a few speed fixes we get sites that work well for users and for SEO. We build faster, manage less, and focus on growing the business. That is why we ditched WordPress for most of our work.