You know that sensation when you’re 99% certain something’s a wonderful concept, just to understand later on … it was an overall dumpster fire? That’s exactly what happened when I determined to switch my whole agency over to GoHighLevel.
It looked glossy. It sounded revolutionary. But in reality? It became among one of the most unpleasant software program decisions I have actually made in over a decade of running my company.
So before you jump on the GoHighLevel bandwagon, let me stroll you via specifically what went down– because if you’re anything like me, you’re constantly searching for smarter, a lot more effective ways to grow your business. Just … not similar to this.
The Seductive All-in-One Guarantee
Here’s the important things. When GoHighLevel struck the scene, it seemed like a dream happened. A single system to manage your CRM, sales funnels, e-mail campaigns, visit reservations, automation, settlements– you name it.
If you’ve ever before handled a Frankenstein pile of tools simply to run your everyday, you understand exactly how appealing the “all-in-one” pitch can be. I ‘d been using Keap for years (and loving it, truthfully), however still– I got tempted in by the assurance of streamlining everything under one roof.
And yeah, I’ll confess: I had a poor situation of glossy things disorder.
Why I Left Keap (A Device That Actually Functioned)
Let me be actual with you: Keap had not been broken. It did every little thing I needed. It managed my email automations, sales funnels, appointment scheduling, invoicing– you name it. Sure, the interface felt a little dated in places, and sometimes things took a few even more clicks than I suched as, however hey, it functioned.
So why change?
Truthfully, I simply started asking yourself if I was missing out. GoHighLevel was less costly (externally), used more features, and all the amazing marketers on the internet appeared to be raving regarding it. FOMO is a hell of a drug.
That curiosity cost me greater than simply cash– it cost me time, energy, and comfort.
What It Cost Me to Switch over
I went all in. Enrolled in the $297/month agency plan. Spent a solid 30 to 40 hours moving information, restoring workflows, and generally trying to replicate my whole Keap setup inside GoHighLevel.
Right here’s what I needed to relocate:
- 20,000+ e-mail customers
- Loads of automations
- All client accounts and notes
- Stripe invoicing integration
- Whole funnel framework
- Customized forms, landing pages, triggers … whatever
Let’s not even talk about the lost performance throughout those couple of weeks. I was up to my eyeballs in Zapier workarounds, watching tutorials, and attempting to identify where the heck standard setups were.
And simply when I believed things were working … they weren’t.
The Bugs Started Slipping In
In the beginning, every little thing looked fine. However after that, out of nowhere, individuals on my checklist started obtaining e-mails they weren’t expected to obtain. I’m speaking totally pointless messages– sent out in sets of 171 individuals at a time. 3 days straight.
Overall turmoil.
I restore the automations from square one. Still taken place. I contacted assistance. They criticized “server concerns.” But nothing made sense, and the issue didn’t disappear. Picture awakening every morning questioning who your system may’ve spammed over night.
That’s not just aggravating– it’s dangerous. When your whole brand name is improved count on, you can’t pay for to resemble an unaware amateur blowing up the wrong emails to the wrong people.
Assistance? Yeah, All The Best
Currently, I do not anticipate excellence from any type of platform. Insects occur. However when they do? I anticipate the support team to step up quick.
That didn’t occur right here.
Actions were obscure. Tickets went unanswered. I seemed like I was shouting right into deep space while my business burned. On the other hand, every min I invested repairing was a minute I wasn’t serving clients or growing my company.
For a tool that markets itself to significant entrepreneurs, GoHighLevel sure didn’t treat me like one.
The Interface Was a Warm Mess
You ever before make use of a tool and just really feel … shed? That was me inside GoHighLevel For Auto Dealerships.
The UX was confusing. Points were buried in weird areas. Even simple tasks like editing and enhancing a funnel or tweaking an e-mail circulation developed into a scavenger hunt.
And their funnel builder? Do not also get me began. Want to alter product setups, page layouts, and general flow? Amazing– you’ll need to hunt through 3 different areas that make zero sensible sense. Fifty percent the time, I could not also remember where I would certainly clicked something ten secs previously.
It felt like using software constructed by engineers, for designers– not day-to-day entrepreneur.
The “Budget-friendly” Plan That Got Genuine Expensive, Genuine Rapid
Let’s speak money.
Among GoHighLevel’s big selling factors is the price. I mean, $97/month for all those features? Seems fantastic, right?
However right here’s what they do not tell you:.
You pay additional per e-mail if you use their SMTP.
You have to link services like Mailgun or Twilio and handle their billing individually.
You’ll obtain arbitrary microcharges that aren’t clarified clearly.
Want much better email deliverability? That’s gon na cost you also.
By the time I included everything up, I was paying greater than I had actually been with Keap. And becoming worse results.
That’s not a good deal– it’s just bad mathematics.
My Email Metrics Tanked GoHighLevel For Auto Dealerships
The last straw? Viewing my email open rates drop like a rock.
I would certainly been obtaining a strong 35% open rate with Keap. My target market was involved, my automations were dialed in, and points just functioned.
After switching to GoHighLevel? Opens dropped listed below 15%. Clicks were practically nonexistent. Something was plainly off.
Possibly it was a deliverability concern. Perhaps the system was simply sending out at hard times or not customizing messages properly. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t lingering to play investigator while my listing deteriorated.
Lessons I Learned by hand
If you’re considering switching over to GoHighLevel– or any kind of new platform– below’s what I wish a person had informed me before I made the leap:.
1. Don’t Chase the Shiny Toy
It’s simple to get hyped regarding the latest “advanced” tool. However even if everyone’s speaking about something doesn’t indicate it’s right for you. If your current system is working, think twice before blowing it up.
2. Worth Simplicity Over Features
More isn’t always far better. A system with a clean, user-friendly user interface will save you time and frustrations in the future– even if it does not have every feature under the sun.
3. Demand Transparency
Hidden expenses are the worst. Pick devices that are upfront regarding pricing, integrations, and limits. You shouldn’t need a calculator and a thesaurus to comprehend your regular monthly costs.
4. Listen to Genuine Users (Not Just Marketers)
Check unbiased evaluations, user discussion forums, and Reddit threads. Focus on real individual experience– not simply slick sales web pages.
Still Desire an All-in-One CRM? Here Are Better Options
If you’re still on the hunt for a trusted, straightforward platform to run your organization, I’ve examined a bunch. Here are a few I ‘d in fact recommend:.
Keap— My present go-to. Effective automations, strong assistance, and it simply works. Worth every dime.
HubSpot— Great for companies that need scalability and advanced CRM features.
GreenRope— A solid all-in-one service for tiny to mid-sized businesses with solid reporting tools.
Monday.com— Fantastic for job monitoring, team collaboration, and sales pipe tracking.
Bonsai— Especially wonderful for freelancers and service-based solopreneurs.
Conclusion
GoHighLevel may work for some. However, for me? It was a discouraging, expensive experiment that I couldn’t wait to end.
So if you’re standing at the side, asking yourself whether to make the jump– think hard. Ask yourself what’s truly not working in your existing arrangement. Don’t melt your systems down even if something newer and shinier appeared.
Stick to what jobs. Your peace of mind (and your customers) will certainly thank you.