Building your first automation workflow in GHL
Create your first GHL workflow to automatically follow up with new leads — no coding required.
What you will learn
This GoHighLevel tutorial walks you through building your first automation workflow in ghl with clear, numbered steps. Whether you are new to GoHighLevel or looking to configure automation correctly, this guide covers everything you need. You will learn: go to automation → workflows, choose a template or start from scratch, add your trigger, add your first action, and more. All steps work inside a standard GoHighLevel account — start a free 14-day trial if you do not have one yet.
Step-by-step guide
Go to Automation → Workflows
In your sub-account, click Automation in the left sidebar, then Workflows. Click + Create Workflow.
Choose a template or start from scratch
GHL has many pre-built workflow templates. For your first workflow, try 'New Lead Follow Up' or start blank to learn the fundamentals.
Add your trigger
The trigger is what starts the workflow. Common triggers: Form Submitted, Contact Created, Tag Added, Appointment Booked. Click + Add Trigger and choose yours.
Add your first action
Click the + button below the trigger to add an action. Try Send Email — select an email template or write a quick welcome message.
Add a wait step
Add a Wait action to pause before the next step. For example, wait 1 day before sending a follow-up SMS.
Add a follow-up SMS
Add a Send SMS action after the wait. Keep it short, friendly, and include a clear call to action.
Set the workflow to Active and test
Toggle the workflow to Active. Submit a test form or manually trigger the workflow on a test contact to verify each step fires correctly.
Ready to put this into action?
Start your free 14-day GHL trial — or join our Skool community at $87/mo (saves $10/mo vs direct signup).Frequently asked questions
How do I go to automation → workflows in GoHighLevel?
In your sub-account, click Automation in the left sidebar, then Workflows. Click + Create Workflow.
What is the first step to building your first automation workflow in ghl?
The first step is to go to automation → workflows. In your sub-account, click Automation in the left sidebar, then Workflows. Click + Create Workflow.
Do I need a GoHighLevel account to follow this tutorial?
Yes. This guide requires an active GoHighLevel account. You can start a free 14-day trial at gohighlevel.com — no credit card is required.