You've built the perfect Meta ad creative. Your copy is sharp. The visuals pop. But before you hit launch and spend your ad budget, you need to see exactly how that ad will look across different placements—and you need your team's approval first.
That's where GoHighLevel's Advanced Preview and Shareable Preview Links come in. Instead of guessing how your ads will render on mobile feeds, desktop, or Instagram Stories, you can preview them in real-time and share a link with stakeholders for instant feedback—no screenshots, no email chains, no confusion.
In this guide, I'll show you exactly how to use these tools to review your Meta ad creative before launch and collaborate seamlessly with your team. If you haven't already started building Meta campaigns in GoHighLevel, grab your free 30-day trial (double the standard trial period) to follow along.
Accessing the Advanced Preview Tool in GoHighLevel
Before you can preview any Meta ads, you need to know where to find the preview tools in GoHighLevel's interface. The process is straightforward, but understanding the right location saves time.
Step 1: Navigate to your Ad Manager
Log in to your GoHighLevel account and head to the Ads or Ad Manager section from the main dashboard. This is where all your Meta, Facebook, and Instagram campaigns live. If you're managing multiple client accounts, make sure you've selected the correct account before proceeding.
Step 2: Select your campaign or create a new one
Find the Meta campaign you want to preview. You can either select an existing campaign or create a new one. If you're building a fresh campaign, fill in your basic settings first—audience, budget, and ad placement preferences—before moving to the creative preview stage.
Step 3: Locate the Preview button
Once you're in your campaign editor, look for the Preview or Advanced Preview button. In most GoHighLevel interfaces, this appears in the top-right area of the creative editor or as a dedicated button near your ad copy and image uploads. Clicking this opens the preview panel.
💡 Pro Tip
If you can't find the Preview button, check whether your current ad set has creative content assigned. GoHighLevel won't allow preview access until at least one image or video and copy have been added.
How to Preview Your Meta Ads Across Different Placements
Once you've opened the Advanced Preview, you'll see your ad rendered in a live preview window. But Meta ads appear differently depending on where they show up—mobile feed, desktop feed, Instagram Stories, Reels, and more. GoHighLevel lets you see all of these variations without launching.
Understanding placement options
The preview tool typically displays your ad across the main Meta placements:
- Facebook Feed (Mobile) – How your ad appears in the mobile Facebook newsfeed
- Facebook Feed (Desktop) – How it renders on desktop browsers
- Instagram Feed – The standard square or rectangular format on Instagram's main feed
- Instagram Stories – Vertical, full-screen format for Stories placements
- Instagram Reels – How your ad integrates with short-form video content
- Audience Network – Third-party placements outside Meta's owned properties
Switching between placements
Use the placement dropdown or toggle buttons in the preview panel to cycle through each format. This is critical because a perfectly designed square image for Instagram Feed might look cropped or awkward in Stories. Spend time on each placement and make sure your headline, copy, and CTA button are readable and visually appealing across all of them.
What to check during preview
- Text readability and font size across screen sizes
- Image or video framing—are key visual elements visible or cut off?
- CTA button clarity and prominence
- Copy flow and no truncation of headlines
- Color contrast and overall visual balance
Generating Shareable Preview Links for Stakeholder Feedback
The most powerful feature for team collaboration is the shareable preview link. Instead of sharing screenshots or asking stakeholders to log into your GoHighLevel account, you can generate a unique link that anyone can access—clients, team members, designers, or executives.
Creating a shareable link
In the Advanced Preview panel, look for a Share, Generate Link, or Shareable Preview button. Clicking this creates a unique URL that displays your ad preview in a read-only format. The link is typically a long string of characters (like a shortened URL), making it easy to copy and paste into emails, Slack, or project management tools.
Customizing the preview URL
Depending on your GoHighLevel plan, you may be able to customize the link with a branded domain or label. Some agencies create preview links with their own domain prefix so clients immediately recognize the source. Check your ad manager settings to see if custom URL options are available.
Link expiration and security
Most shareable preview links in GoHighLevel don't expire, meaning anyone with the link can view it indefinitely. However, always confirm this in your account settings. If you need to disable a link, look for a Revoke or Deactivate Link option in the share menu. This is important if you're working with confidential client campaigns.
This is built into GoHighLevel. Try it free for 30 days →
Sharing Previews With Team Members and Stakeholders
Now that you have your shareable link, it's time to get feedback from the people who matter. The distribution method depends on your team structure and client communication preferences.
Internal team feedback loops
For your internal team, paste the preview link in your project management tool (Asana, Monday, Notion) or Slack channel. Set a clear deadline for feedback and specify what you want reviewed—copy clarity, design alignment, brand compliance, or all of the above. This keeps feedback centralized and documented.
Client and stakeholder review
When sharing with clients, include a brief email or message explaining what they're reviewing and what kind of feedback you need. Example:
"Hi [Client Name], I've created three Meta ad variations for your campaign. Please review the ads across different placements using the link below. Pay special attention to the copy and CTA button on mobile. Let me know if you'd like any changes before we launch on [date]."
Providing context reduces back-and-forth questions and streamlines approval.
Managing multiple versions
If you're testing A/B creative variants, create separate preview links for each version. Label them clearly (Variant A, Variant B, etc.) so stakeholders understand they're reviewing different options. This approach also works well for multivariate testing where you change headlines, images, or CTAs.
💡 Pro Tip
When sharing previews with non-technical stakeholders, include a quick screenshot or annotation showing which placement they're viewing. Many people aren't familiar with Meta's different ad formats, and visual context helps them provide better feedback.
Understanding Access Permissions and Link Availability
Access to shareable preview links and advanced preview features depends on your GoHighLevel subscription tier and user role. Understanding these limitations ensures you don't run into roadblocks when trying to share with stakeholders.
Subscription tier requirements
Advanced Preview and shareable preview links are typically available on GoHighLevel's standard and higher-tier plans. Starter plans may have limited preview functionality. If you're on a lower tier and don't see the preview option, upgrading unlocks full access to these collaboration tools.
User role permissions
In a team account, not all users have the same access level. Campaign managers and account owners can create and share preview links, but team members with limited permissions might only view previews. If you're managing client accounts, make sure your team members have the right role assigned to create shareable links.
What viewers can't do with preview links
Shareable preview links are read-only. Stakeholders can view your ads and see how they render across placements, but they cannot:
- Edit the ad creative or copy
- Change targeting or budget settings
- Launch or pause the campaign
- Access account-level settings
This is intentional—it protects your campaign integrity while allowing feedback.
Best Practices for Ad Preview Workflows
To maximize the effectiveness of GoHighLevel's preview tools, follow these best practices in your ad creation process.
Preview before finalizing copy
Don't wait until your ad is ready to launch to preview it. Check all placements while you're still building. This catches text truncation, image cropping, or design issues early when they're easy to fix.
Create a preview checklist
Develop a standard checklist of things to verify across all placements: headline length, body copy clarity, CTA prominence, brand alignment, and legal compliance (if applicable). Use this checklist every time before sharing with stakeholders.
Set clear feedback deadlines
When you share a preview link, include a specific date and time by which you need feedback. Vague timelines lead to delays. Example: "Please review by Thursday at 5 PM EST so we can launch Friday morning."
Document feedback and changes
Create a version history or changelog when stakeholders request edits. This prevents scope creep and helps you explain why certain changes were made later if performance is questioned.
Use previews for compliance reviews
If your industry requires compliance approval (healthcare, finance, legal), use shareable preview links to route ads to your compliance team before launch. They can review the exact rendering stakeholders will see, not just a mockup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I preview ads before they're fully created?
Yes. As long as you have at least one image and some copy added, you can preview the ad. You don't need all targeting and budget settings finalized first.
Do shareable preview links show real-time updates?
Preview links update automatically when you make changes to the ad creative. Stakeholders always see the latest version without needing a new link.
How long do shareable preview links stay active?
Shareable preview links remain active indefinitely unless you manually revoke them. However, once the campaign is deleted from your account, the link may expire.
Can I track who viewed the preview link?
GoHighLevel's basic preview sharing doesn't include view tracking. If you need that functionality, you may need to use URL parameter tracking or third-party link analytics tools.
What if my stakeholder can't access the preview link?
Make sure the link hasn't expired or been revoked. If using a custom domain, verify the domain settings are active. You can also regenerate a new link and share that instead.