Communities in HighLevel are a feature-packed tool designed to create interactive spaces for members, clients, or students. Whether you’re building an educational platform, fostering community discussions, or integrating learning modules with social spaces, HighLevel Communities provides a versatile framework for you to build upon. This tutorial (particularly my video video) explores its features, setup process, and potential, as well as areas for improvement.
What Are HighLevel Communities?
HighLevel Communities is part of the broader HighLevel ecosystem, integrating seamlessly with other tools like Courses and the Client Portal. Communities in HighLevel are structured as Groups, each serving as a distinct space for interaction, content sharing, and engagement.
Key Features:
- Multiple Groups: Create separate “communities” for different purposes, such as course-specific groups, mastermind groups, or private memberships.
- Channels Within Groups: Organize discussions into channels, such as announcements, tech help, or discussion forums.
- Monetization: Charge for access to groups with customizable subscription models.
- Integrated Learning: Combine group memberships with course access for a cohesive experience.
Setting Up a Community in HighLevel
Step 1: Creating a Group
Groups are the foundation of HighLevel Communities. To create your first group:
- Navigate to Memberships → Communities → Groups.
- Click Create Group and provide a name (e.g., “Tech Help Community”).
- Add branding elements like a favicon, cover image, and logo.
Groups can serve various purposes, such as:
- A space for course students to interact.
- A mastermind group for professionals.
- A free or paid general membership community.
Step 2: Configuring Group Settings
Each group comes with customizable settings:
- Privacy: Choose between public (visible to all) and private (restricted to members).
- Subscriptions: Set pricing and trial periods. For example, $20/month with a 7-day free trial.
- Themes: Select light or dark mode and customize colors.
- Gamification: Add levels and rewards to encourage engagement.
- Membership Questions: Create onboarding questions for new members.
Channels and Posts
Within each group, you can create channels to organize discussions. For example:
- Announcements Channel: Share updates or important information.
- Discussion Channel: Facilitate member interactions.
Posting and Interaction
- Members can create posts, add images, and share links.
- Posts support basic formatting but lack advanced WYSIWYG editing. For instance, you can use keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl/Cmd + B for bold text, but there’s no dedicated formatting toolbar.
- Comments and replies are enabled on posts for ongoing discussions.
Areas for Improvement
The current editor for posting content is functional but basic. It would benefit from richer formatting options, similar to platforms like Circle. But it gets the job done.
Events and Direct Messaging
Creating Events
Events can be added to groups for scheduled interactions:
- Recurring or One-Time: Set events like weekly office hours or monthly webinars.
- Event Details: Add titles, descriptions, and images.
- Integration: Include links to external platforms like Zoom or Google Meet.
- RSVP and Payment Options: Restrict access based on membership levels or charge a fee for premium events.
Direct Messaging
HighLevel Communities includes a basic chat feature for private conversations. While functional, this feature could be more polished with clearer naming (e.g., “Direct Messaging”) and a streamlined interface.
Integrating Courses with Communities
HighLevel shines when communities are combined with its Courses feature. For example:
- Members of a “Tech Help Community” can access exclusive courses tied to their group membership.
- Groups can include multiple courses, providing a bundled educational and community experience.
Monetization Options
Charge for group access, course access, or a combination of both:
- Set recurring subscriptions for ongoing access.
- Offer one-time payments for lifetime access to a group or course bundle.
If you haven’t already, definitely check out my HighLevel Courses walkthrough. I take a deep dive into how the feature works.
Navigating the Client Portal
The Client Portal ties everything together, allowing users to:
- Access their communities and courses.
- View membership details and explore other available groups.
- Manage profiles, certificates, and subscriptions.
I also have a complete tutorial for how to set up the Client Portal in HighLevel for you to check out.
User Experience
The Client Portal is intuitive, but improvements could be made:
- All Courses Visibility: Non-members should see available courses and have the option to purchase them. I think this might actually be a bug because it looks like it should work, but it does not.
- Group Previews: Display group highlights to entice new members.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths:
- Integration: Combines communities, courses, and client management into one platform.
- Cost-Effectiveness: HighLevel’s subscription includes Communities, making it a value-packed alternative to standalone platforms like Circle.
Limitations:
- Basic Editor: The post editor lacks advanced formatting tools.
- Design Polishing: Elements like event pages, navigation, and the overall interface could benefit from additional refinement. It lacks the ‘polished’ appearance that platforms like Circle have for their communities.
- Terminology: Terms like “Groups” and “Communities” can be confusing and would benefit from standardization, similar to how “courses” are actually “products” and are sold by “offers”. The terminology is definitely bloated.
Final Thoughts
HighLevel Communities have evolved into a powerful tool for creating interactive spaces within the HighLevel ecosystem. While it may not yet rival dedicated platforms like Circle in design and user experience, its integration with courses and client management makes it an attractive option for businesses already using HighLevel.
If you need additional help with HighLevel you’re welcome to check out my other HighLevel tutorials or learn more about my HighLevel Mastery course.