Staylisted Review: A Mixed Bag of Marketing Promises and Pitfalls

When I first signed up with Staylisted, I was hopeful. Like many small business owners, I needed a digital presence that could compete—something sleek, functional, and optimized to attract local customers. Their pitch was compelling: expert websites, local SEO mastery, and hands-on marketing management. But my experience? Well, let’s just say it wasn’t quite the seamless transformation I’d envisioned.

The Good, The Bad, and The Frustrating

Website Creation: Hit or Miss

Staylisted delivered a website—technically. The initial design was functional, if not groundbreaking, but the real issues surfaced later. After launch, updates were sluggish. Simple edits took days (or follow-up emails), and the second iteration of my site felt rushed, with clunky navigation and inconsistent branding. Worse, having multiple underperforming web properties actually hurt my Google rankings—something their "SEO experts" should’ve flagged immediately.

Communication: From Enthusiastic to Radio Silence

The sales team was relentless before I signed the contract—calls, emails, promises of "white-glove service." Post-payment? Crickets. Getting responses required nagging, and even after switching project managers (which did help marginally), delays were the norm. A recurring theme in reviews is their inconsistency: some clients praise their responsiveness, while others, like me, felt ghosted. Pro tip: If you work with them, demand clear communication SLAs upfront.

SEO: The Unfulfilled Promise

The core reason I hired Staylisted was to rank locally. Seven months in, my traffic and sales hadn’t budged. Their reports focused on vanity metrics (like "keywords tracked"), not tangible results. When pressed, they blamed "algorithm changes" or my industry’s competitiveness—never their strategy. For the price, I expected proactive adjustments, not excuses.

Billing and Accountability

Canceling was its own ordeal. Despite terminating services, charges mysteriously lingered. Others reported similar "hostage" situations with domains or unexplained fees. Transparency here is a glaring weakness.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Strengths:

• Some clients report solid website builds and prompt communication (experiences vary wildly).
• Affordable entry-level pricing for basic web design.
• Potential for improvement if you advocate fiercely for your needs.

Weaknesses:

• Inconsistent follow-through on SEO and marketing promises.
• Post-sale support often lags, with slow response times.
• Lack of ownership when strategies fail ("it’s Google’s fault, not ours").
• Billing practices feel predatory to some customers.

Final Thoughts

Staylisted could be a fit for businesses needing a no-frills website with minimal ongoing support. But if you’re banking on them to elevate your search rankings or provide reliable long-term partnership? Tread carefully. My takeaway: They excel at selling the dream but struggle with execution. For mission-critical marketing, you might want a team with more skin in the game—one that treats your growth like their own.