How to Build Recipient Segments in GoHighLevel Email Campaigns

When you move from ClickUp task planning into live marketing execution, you need precise audience targeting. In GoHighLevel, building recipient segments for email campaigns lets you choose exactly which contacts receive your message based on clear conditions and filters.

This guide walks you step-by-step through creating recipient segments inside the GoHighLevel email campaign builder, so you can send accurate, relevant broadcasts without guesswork.

Why Use Recipient Segments in GoHighLevel

Recipient segments in GoHighLevel control who actually receives your email when you send or schedule a campaign. Instead of blasting your entire list, you can narrow it down using conditions such as tags, custom fields, or contact status.

Using segments helps you:

• Avoid emailing the wrong audience.
• Target contacts based on behavior or attributes.
• Exclude groups that should not receive a specific promotion.
• Keep deliverability and engagement metrics strong.

Everything happens directly inside the GoHighLevel email campaign builder interface.

Accessing the GoHighLevel Email Campaign Builder

To start building a segment, first open an email campaign in GoHighLevel.

1. Log in to your GoHighLevel dashboard.
2. Navigate to the Marketing or Campaigns area, depending on your account layout.
3. Create a new email campaign or open an existing one that you want to edit.
4. Proceed to the step where you select recipients or audience for the campaign.

On this recipient step, you will see the options to include or exclude contacts by using specific filters and conditions.

Understanding Recipient Segment Options in GoHighLevel

Within the GoHighLevel email campaign recipient section you will typically see two main types of filters:

• Include filters – Define which contacts should be added to the recipient list.
• Exclude filters – Define which contacts should be removed from the recipient list even if they match include filters.

Each filter is created with a condition, and those conditions are based on data stored on your contacts.

Common Contact Filters in GoHighLevel

While the exact labels can vary, these are common filter types you will find when building recipient segments in GoHighLevel:

• Tags – Include or exclude contacts who have specific tags applied.
• Contact Details – Filter by name, email, phone, or other standard fields.
• Custom Fields – Target based on custom data such as plan type, interests, or lifecycle stage.
• Appointment or Activity Data – Depending on configuration, you may filter by bookings or recent actions.

Each filter uses one or more conditions, such as equals, contains, does not contain, is set, or is not set.

How to Build an Include Segment in GoHighLevel

Follow these steps to build a basic include segment for your GoHighLevel email campaign.

1. Open the Recipient Section

   Inside your chosen campaign, go to the recipient or audience step where filters can be configured.

2. Add an Include Filter Group

   Click on the option to add or edit Include filters. This opens a panel where you can define your conditions.

3. Select the Filter Type

   Choose the field you want to filter by, such as Tags or a specific custom field created in GoHighLevel.

4. Choose the Condition

   Select the appropriate condition operator. Common examples include:

   • Contains a particular tag.
   • Equals a certain field value.
   • Is set to ensure the field is not empty.
5. Enter the Value

   Type or pick the value that defines who should be included. For example, select a tag like “Newsletter” or a custom field value like “Active”.

6. Apply and Preview

   Save the filter, then review the number of contacts matched. Many GoHighLevel views will display a count of recipients so you can confirm it looks correct.

You can repeat these steps to add multiple include filters and refine who belongs to your segment.

Using Exclude Segments in GoHighLevel Email Campaigns

Exclude filters are just as important as include filters in GoHighLevel because they help you protect specific lists or groups from receiving certain messages.

Steps to Add Exclude Filters in GoHighLevel

1. Open Exclude Filter Settings

   In the same recipient step, locate the section labeled Exclude or similar, and click to add a new condition group.

2. Select the Exclusion Basis

   Choose the field to use for exclusion, such as:

   • A tag indicating customers who opted out of promotions.
   • A custom field that marks VIP clients.
   • A stage field that shows a contact as closed or inactive.
3. Define the Condition

   Set the operator, such as Contains or Equals, based on how the field is stored in GoHighLevel.

4. Enter the Exclusion Value

   Pick or type the value that identifies contacts who must be excluded from this campaign.

5. Save and Confirm

   Apply the filter and verify that your total recipient count updates accordingly. This ensures your GoHighLevel segment now ignores contacts who meet the exclusion rules.

Combining Multiple Segment Conditions in GoHighLevel

Most real campaigns require more than one condition. In GoHighLevel, you can combine several filters to create precise segments.

AND vs. OR Logic in GoHighLevel Segments

Depending on the interface of your account, filters may be combined using logical groups:

• AND logic – Contacts must meet every condition in that group.
• OR logic – Contacts can meet any of the listed conditions to qualify.

Review the segment builder in your GoHighLevel campaign to see how groups are structured. When in doubt, examine the previewed contact count after each change.

Example Segment Structures in GoHighLevel

Here are a few patterns you can implement:

• Active Newsletter Subscribers
  Include: Tag contains “Newsletter”
  Exclude: Custom field “Status” equals “Unsubscribed”
• Local Leads
  Include: Tag contains “Lead” AND Contact city equals your target city.
• Non-Customer Prospects
  Include: Tag contains “Prospect”
  Exclude: Tag contains “Customer”

All of these can be implemented using recipient filters directly in GoHighLevel.

Previewing and Validating Segments in GoHighLevel

Before sending, always validate your segment:

• Check the number of included contacts.
• Confirm that important groups are not accidentally excluded.
• Verify that test contacts you know meet the criteria are included or excluded correctly.

Most GoHighLevel campaign views provide a way to see a sample of the contacts, making it easier to detect issues early.

Sending or Scheduling Your Segmented Campaign in GoHighLevel

Once your recipient segment looks correct:

1. Save the campaign settings.
2. Choose whether to send immediately or schedule for a future date and time.
3. Confirm the final recipient count as shown by GoHighLevel.
4. Launch the campaign and monitor performance statistics after sending.

Your segment configuration remains associated with that campaign, so you can clone or reuse it for similar audiences later.

Additional Resources for GoHighLevel Users

To dive deeper into the official instructions for building recipient segments in GoHighLevel email campaigns, review the original documentation here: GoHighLevel support article on recipient segments.

If you want strategic help planning segmented campaigns, automation, and funnel structures that integrate with GoHighLevel, you can also explore consulting resources at Consultevo.

By combining clear filters, thoughtful include and exclude rules, and careful validation inside GoHighLevel, you can ensure every email campaign reaches the right audience at the right time.

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