So– you’ve been considering GoHighLevel, huh? Maybe you have actually seen the radiant evaluations. Found out about the all-in-one magic. Read exactly how it might replace your CRM, your email marketing devices, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– joking (kind of) GoHighLevel For Auto Dealerships.
I get it. The guarantee is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running an agency, the idea of simplifying everything under one roofing sounds like an efficiency dream. However let me stop you right there … due to the fact that I fell for the hype. And I desire somebody had grabbed me by the shoulders and claimed: “Don’t do it.”
In this article, I’m walking you with my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from confident starts to a total 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 Even Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something new? Like when your favored pair of shoes unexpectedly feels … boring? That’s what occurred to me. I ‘d been using Keap (you may remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– five, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned fantastic.
I suggest, Keap handled everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the method I ran my service. Sure, it had not been perfect, yet it was trustworthy. Like an excellent old Toyota– you’re not bragging about it, but it gets you where you need to go without breaking down.
So why did I start eyeing the fancy new Tesla parked next door?
Due to shiny things disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, you understand exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook teams, YouTubers, and SaaS blog writers are humming about a “game-changer,” you begin wondering if you’re missing out. And prior to I knew it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and reasoning, “Maybe it’s time.”
Big. Mistake.
The Cost of Switching: What It Actually Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole tech pile is ruthless. I wish I can inform you I simply clicked a button and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend. Nope.
Below’s a peek of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (manually).
- Reconstruct a dozen automations from the ground up– things like onboarding, e-mail series, lead nurturing.
- Moved every customer note, task standing, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once more.
- Reconnected settlement integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours fiddling with setups and testing workflows.
And allow’s not fail to remember the mental power it drew out of me. You recognize that tired, brain-fried feeling after staring at your screen for as well lengthy? That was my life for 2 weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Began Falling Apart
In the beginning, it appeared like points were working. Automations were firing. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were online. I exhaled a little.
Then– disorder.
One morning I awakened to a nightmare: 171 e-mails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of calls. Totally pointless material. Three days in a row. And not the very same people either– various sets each time. I was horrified.
I tore through the automation settings, deleted and rebuilt sequences, even reached out to support. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No accountability. And the e-mails simply maintained heading out like a rogue robotic on auto-pilot.
Then, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My audience mattered excessive to run the risk of an additional screw-up.
Poor UX = Slow Fatality by Aggravation
Let me repaint you a picture. You’re attempting to tweak a workflow. Easy job, right? Except now you’re 12 clicks deep in food selections that do not make good sense. Labels aren’t clear. Setups are concealed in position no one would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Don’t also obtain me began. You need to accessibility 3 various arrangement panels– spread across the user interface– to update a single funnel.
It felt like constructing IKEA furnishings without directions. I wanted to love the versatility, yet every little thing concerning the individual experience made me feel like I required a developer sitting alongside me 24/7.
And this is originating from somebody who ‘d been running automations and developing funnels for several years. If I was having a hard time, I can not visualize what it resembles for a person simply getting started.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Here’s something they don’t advertise clearly: GoHighLevel charges per email you send out through their platform.
Yep. In addition to your $297/month agency plan, there are sneaky little charges that begin accumulating. I saw random $10 charges appearing– then $20 … after that $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment fees via Mailgun, their e-mail carrier.
So what looked like an economical, flat-rate platform? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was investing more than I did on Keap– and getting means less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Auto Dealerships.
Email Efficiency Tanked– Which Was the Last lick
If you do any kind of sort of e-mail marketing, you recognize exactly how vital deliverability is. You spend years supporting your checklist, developing trust, adjust subject lines. So when your open rates leave a high cliff, it’s like enjoying your hard work obtain flushed away.
That’s specifically what occurred when I switched over to GoHighLevel.
My open rates dropped from around 35% to barely 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 promos folders. And because GoHighLevel relies on third-party deliverability tools (without much support), I was left playing email live roulette.
Then, I could not validate staying. I pulled the plug and went back to Keap.
So, Should You Make use of GoHighLevel?
Truthfully? I would not recommend it. Not if you’re searching for something steady, user-friendly, and trustworthy. There’s excessive at stake– your track record, your consumer experience, your profits.
Yet if you’re still curious, a minimum of go in with your eyes wide open. Test every little thing. Do not blindly rely on the hype.
Lessons Discovered (So You Don’t Repeat My Mistakes).
Here’s the fact no person informs you when you’re going after the next “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what works– unless there’s a great factor to switch over.
Keap had not been fancy, but it was solid. That deserves more than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats intricacy– every time.
An intuitive tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not fall for affordable price– consider the genuine cost.
Check out the small print. Inquire about deliverability fees. Know what “endless” truly suggests.
4. Keep an eye out for biased reviews.
A great deal of the glowing testimonies out there? They’re from affiliates trying to score a payment. Discover individuals with absolutely nothing to get.
5. Pay attention to your digestive tract.
If something really feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– don’t ignore it.
Much Better Alternatives to Consider
If you’re trying to find a system that in fact works the means it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Impressive automation, solid deliverability, and great support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with excellent project management tools for tiny groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a polished UX. Ideal if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, but excellent for client cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Built for freelancers and creatives. Super tidy, very streamlined.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel seems like the solution to everything. And if it worked flawlessly, I ‘d probably be their largest cheerleader. But it really did not. And I can’t pretend otherwise.
So before you study a full-blown movement– or worse, encourage your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And consider whether the “all-in-one” desire is worth the real-world compromises.
You’ve functioned as well tough to build something great. Do not risk it on a system that still feels like a beta test.
If you want my two cents? Stick with tools that just function.