So– you’ve been looking at GoHighLevel, huh? Perhaps you have actually seen the glowing reviews. Heard about the all-in-one magic. Check out how it can replace your CRM, your email marketing tools, your sales funnel builder, your left kidney– kidding (sort of) GoHighLevel For Automative Businesses.
I get it. The promise is appealing: one powerful dashboard to rule them all. And if you’re running a company, the idea of improving everything under one roofing seems like a performance dream. Yet let me stop you right there … since I fell for the hype. And I want a person had gotten me by the shoulders and said: “Don’t do it.”
In this post, I’m strolling you through my rollercoaster of a trip with GoHighLevel– from hopeful beginnings to a total 180. If you’re seriously considering making the button, read this initial. It’ll conserve you time, cash, and a truckload of headaches.
Let’s Back Up: Why I Also Looked at GoHighLevel
You ever before get that itch for something brand-new? Like when your preferred pair of shoes suddenly feels … boring? That’s what happened to me. I would certainly been using Keap (you could remember it as Infusionsoft) for several years– 5, to be precise. And honestly, it functioned wonderful.
I indicate, Keap dealt with everything: email marketing, CRM, automations, funnels, invoicing. It just clicked with the way I ran my service. Certain, it had not been perfect, yet it was dependable. Like a good old Toyota– you’re not extoling it, however it obtains you where you require to go without breaking down.
So why did I begin eyeing the flashy brand-new Tesla parked next door?
As a result of glossy item disorder. Yep. It’s real. And if you’re a business owner like me, you know exactly what I’m discussing. When all the Facebook groups, YouTubers, and SaaS bloggers are buzzing concerning a “game-changer,” you begin questioning if you’re missing out. And prior to I recognized it, I was deep-diving right into GoHighLevel demos and thinking, “Perhaps it’s time.”
Big. Error.
The Price of Switching: What It Really Took
Let’s not sugarcoat this– moving your agency’s whole technology stack is brutal. I desire I can inform you I just clicked a switch and voilà, I was running on GoHighLevel by the weekend break. Nope.
Here’s a look of what I actually underwent:
- Exported over 20,000 calls from Keap (by hand).
- Rebuilt a loads automations from square one– things like onboarding, e-mail sequences, lead nurturing.
- Moved every client note, job status, and funnel over.
- Set up landing pages. Once again.
- Reconnected payment integrations like Stripe.
- Spent close to 40 hours adjusting settings and testing workflows.
And let’s not neglect the mental energy it sucked out of me. You understand that exhausted, brain-fried sensation after looking at your display for as well long? That was my life for two weeks right.
I informed myself, “This pain will certainly be worth it.” It wasn’t.
When Everything Started Crumbling
At first, it appeared like points were functioning. Automations were shooting. E-mails were heading out. Funnels were real-time. I breathed out a little.
Then– turmoil.
One morning I got up to a problem: 171 emails had actually been sent to the incorrect team of contacts. Entirely unnecessary content. 3 days straight. And not the same individuals either– different sets each time. I was alarmed.
I tore via the automation settings, erased and restored sequences, even connected to support. Their action? “Server problem.” Uh … what?
No resolution. No urgency. No responsibility. And the emails just kept going out like a rogue robot on auto-pilot.
At that point, I was done trusting GoHighLevel with anything vital. My target market mattered way too much to run the risk of another error.
Negative UX = Slow Death by Disappointment
Let me paint you a photo. You’re trying to modify a workflow. Straightforward task, right? Other than now you’re 12 clicks deep in menus that don’t make good sense. Tags aren’t clear. Settings are hidden in places nobody would practically look.
Their funnel builder? Do not even get me started. You have to gain access to three different configuration panels– spread across the user interface– to upgrade a single funnel.
It felt like putting together IKEA furniture without guidelines. I wanted to love the flexibility, however whatever regarding the individual experience made me feel like I needed a developer sitting beside me 24/7.
And this is originating from a person who ‘d been running automations and building funnels for years. If I was battling, I can’t imagine what it’s like for someone just beginning.
Surprise Charges and Shady Pricing
Right here’s something they don’t promote clearly: GoHighLevel fees per e-mail you send through their system.
Yep. On top of your $297/month agency plan, there are tricky little costs that start accumulating. I noticed random $10 fees appearing– then $20 … then $50. Ends up, I was racking up shipment costs via Mailgun, their email supplier.
So what appeared like an affordable, flat-rate system? Not a lot. By the end of the month, I was spending greater than I did on Keap– and getting way less reliability in return.
That really felt unethical. And it’s a dealbreaker for me GoHighLevel For Automative Businesses.
Email Performance Tanked– Which Was the Final stroke
If you do any type of type of e-mail marketing, you recognize how crucial deliverability is. You invest years supporting your list, constructing trust, tweak subject lines. So when your open prices leave a cliff, it’s like watching your effort obtain purged away.
That’s specifically what happened when I switched to GoHighLevel.
My open prices dropped from around 35% to barely scratching 10%. I tweaked subject lines, validated domain names, heated up IPs– you call it. Still absolutely nothing.
Email after e-mail landed in spam or promos folders. And given that GoHighLevel depends on third-party deliverability devices (without much guidance), I was left playing e-mail 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 suggest it. Not if you’re searching for something secure, intuitive, and trustworthy. There’s way too much at stake– your track record, your consumer experience, your bottom line.
But if you’re still curious, at least go in with your eyes wide open. Examination every little thing. Don’t thoughtlessly trust the hype.
Lessons Found Out (So You Don’t Repeat My Blunders).
Below’s the truth no person tells you when you’re going after the following “all-in-one” tool:
1. Stick to what jobs– unless there’s a very good reason to change.
Keap had not been showy, yet it was solid. That’s worth greater than any brand-new feature.
2. Simplicity beats complexity– whenever.
An user-friendly tool that does 80% well is far better than a Frankenstein system that does 100% terribly.
3. Do not succumb to small cost– look at the genuine expense.
Read the fine print. Ask about deliverability charges. Know what “unlimited” actually means.
4. Look out for biased evaluations.
A great deal of the radiant endorsements out there? They’re from associates attempting to rack up a compensation. Discover people with absolutely nothing to acquire.
5. Listen to your digestive tract.
If something feels off during your free trial or onboarding stage– do not ignore it.
Better Alternatives to Think About
If you’re searching for a platform that actually functions the method it promises, check these out:.
Keap– My leading choice. Remarkable automation, strong deliverability, and terrific support.
GreenRope— All-in-one CRM with wonderful project management devices for little groups.
HubSpot— Enterprise-grade devices with a sleek UX. Perfect if you’re scaling fast.
Monday— More project-focused, however terrific for customer cooperation and job monitoring.
Bonsai— Constructed for consultants and creatives. Super clean, incredibly structured.
Final Word
Look, I get it. GoHighLevel sounds like the response to everything. And if it worked perfectly, I ‘d most likely be their greatest supporter. But it didn’t. And I can not act or else.
So prior to you study a full-scale migration– or worse, convince your customers to do the exact same– breathe. Ask the hard questions. And think about whether the “all-in-one” dream deserves the real-world compromises.
You have actually worked too difficult to construct something terrific. Don’t risk it on a platform that still seems like a beta test.
If you want my 2 cents? Stick to devices that just work.