How to Set Up Your First GoHighLevel Automation Workflow in 30 Minutes
Learn how to set up your first GoHighLevel automation workflow in just 30 minutes. Step-by-step guide for beginners with no tech experience needed.
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If you’re new to GoHighLevel, the automation workflows might seem intimidating at first. But here’s the truth: setting up your first workflow is way easier than you think, and it can save you hours every single week.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through creating a simple but powerful automation workflow in just 30 minutes. No tech degree required.
What is a Workflow in GoHighLevel?
Think of a workflow as a series of automatic actions that happen when someone does something specific. For example:
- When someone fills out a form, they automatically get a welcome email
- When a lead doesn’t respond, they get a follow-up text after 2 days
- When someone books a call, they get a reminder 24 hours before
Instead of manually doing all this yourself, the workflow does it for you. Every. Single. Time.
Why You Need Workflows (Even If You're Just Starting)
Here’s what happens without automation:
You get a new lead at 2 PM. You’re in a meeting, so you don’t see it until 5 PM. By then, you’re tired and forget to follow up. Three days later, you remember, but the lead has already gone with a competitor who responded faster.
Sound familiar?
Workflows solve this problem. They respond instantly, follow up consistently, and never forget a single lead. While you’re sleeping, working with other clients, or binge-watching Netflix, your workflows are working.
The Workflow We're Building Today
We’re going to create a simple lead nurturing workflow that:
- Sends a welcome email when someone fills out your contact form
- Waits 2 days
- Sends a follow-up text if they haven’t responded
- Waits 3 more days
- Sends a final email with a special offer
This is the foundation. Once you understand how this works, you can build way more complex workflows.
Step 1: Get to the Workflow Builder
Log into your GoHighLevel account and look for “Automation” in the left sidebar. Click on it, then click “Workflows.”
You’ll see a button that says “Create Workflow.” Click that.
Give your workflow a name. Something simple like “New Lead Follow-Up” works perfectly. The name is just for you, so keep it clear and descriptive.
Step 2: Choose Your Trigger
Every workflow needs a trigger. This is the thing that kicks off the whole sequence.
Click “Add New Workflow Trigger” and you’ll see a bunch of options. For this workflow, we want “Form Submitted.”
Select your contact form from the dropdown. If you don’t have a form yet, you’ll need to create one first. But assuming you do, select it and save.
Now whenever someone fills out that form, this workflow will start automatically.
Step 3: Send the Welcome Email
Click the “+” button below your trigger. This is where you add your first action.
Select “Send Email” from the options.
Now you need to write your welcome email. Here’s a simple template you can customize:
Subject: Thanks for reaching out!
Body: Hi [First Name],
Thanks for getting in touch! I got your message and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
In the meantime, feel free to check out [link to your calendar/resources/etc.].
Talk soon, [Your Name]
Notice the [First Name] part? GoHighLevel will automatically insert each person’s actual name. Pretty cool, right?
Save your email.
Step 4: Add a Wait Period
Here’s where it gets smart. We don’t want to bombard people with messages immediately. So we’ll add a wait.
Click the “+” button again and select “Wait.”
Set it to wait 2 days. This gives the lead time to respond to your first email before you follow up.
Save it.
Step 5: Add a Condition
This is important. We only want to send the follow-up if the person hasn’t already responded or booked a call.
Click the “+” button and select “If/Else.”
Set your condition to check if they’ve replied to your email or completed another action (like booking a call). If they have, the workflow stops. If they haven’t, it continues.
This prevents you from annoying people who are already engaged.
Step 6: Send a Follow-Up Text
If they haven’t responded, it’s time for a friendly text nudge.
Click the “+” button in the “No” path of your condition and select “Send SMS.”
Here’s a simple text template:
“Hi [First Name], just following up on your inquiry. Still interested in chatting? Reply YES and I’ll send you my calendar link!”
Keep texts short and friendly. Nobody likes reading a novel on their phone.
Save it.
Step 7: Add Another Wait
Add another wait period. This time, let’s give them 3 days.
Click “+”, select “Wait”, set it to 3 days, and save.
Step 8: Send a Final Email with an Offer
This is your last touchpoint in this workflow. Make it count.
Click “+” and select “Send Email” again.
Subject: Last chance – [Special Offer] inside
Body: Hi [First Name],
I know you’re busy, so I’ll keep this short.
I wanted to reach out one more time because I genuinely think I can help with [their problem/goal].
As a thank you for your interest, here’s [special offer/bonus/discount].
This offer expires in 48 hours, so if you’re interested, let’s connect soon.
[Your CTA – book a call, reply to email, etc.]
Best, [Your Name]
Save it.
Step 9: Test Your Workflow
This is crucial. Never launch a workflow without testing it first.
GoHighLevel has a test feature. Use it. Submit a test form entry and watch the workflow run. Make sure:
- Emails look good and have the right content
- Wait times are correct
- Conditions work properly
- Text messages send
Fix anything that looks off.
Step 10: Activate and Monitor
Once you’re happy with everything, toggle the workflow to “Active.”
Congratulations! Your first automation workflow is live.
What Happens Now?
From this moment on, every person who fills out your form will automatically enter this workflow. They’ll get the welcome email, the follow-up text, and the final offer – all without you lifting a finger.
You just created a system that works 24/7.
Tips to Make Your Workflows Even Better
Keep it simple at first. Don’t try to build a 47-step workflow on day one. Start with something basic like this, see how it performs, then add to it.
Personalize everything. Use custom fields like first name, company name, or whatever info you collect. Personal messages get way better responses.
Test different timing. Maybe 2 days is too long for your industry. Maybe 1 day works better. Test and adjust.
Monitor your results. GoHighLevel shows you exactly how your workflows are performing. Check in weekly and see what’s working.
Don’t be afraid to edit. Workflows aren’t set in stone. If something isn’t working, change it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Sending too many messages too fast. Nobody likes being spammed. Space things out.
Not testing before launching. Always test. I can’t stress this enough.
Making it too complicated. Simple workflows that actually run are better than complex ones that confuse you.
Forgetting to check responses. Automation is great, but you still need to respond when people engage.
What's Next?
Now that you’ve built your first workflow, you can start getting creative. Here are some ideas:
- Birthday or anniversary workflows
- Abandoned cart follow-ups
- Post-purchase thank you sequences
- Re-engagement campaigns for cold leads
- Appointment reminder workflows
The possibilities are endless.
Final Thoughts
Setting up your first GoHighLevel automation workflow might have seemed scary before reading this, but now you know it’s totally doable in 30 minutes.
The key is to start simple, test everything, and improve as you go. Every workflow you build will make your business run smoother and free up more of your time.
So what are you waiting for? Go build that workflow!
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Mustafiz Man
GoHighLevel & Paid Ads Specialist