Gmail setup + email sequence in GHL

A — Prepare the Gmail account

01

Create the Gmail account

(or pick the Google Workspace account) you want GHL to send from / sync with.

02

Enable 2-Step Verification (required)

Sign into the Google account > Google Account > Security > "2-Step Verification" and turn it on.

This is required so you can create an app password for SMTP if you won't use OAuth. (GHL docs require this for Gmail SMTP). HighLevel Support Portal

03

(If using SMTP) Create an App Password

(used instead of your normal Google password):

Google Account > Security > "App passwords" > select "Mail" and device (or "Other" and name it "GHL SMTP") > Create > copy the 16-char password. You'll paste this into GHL when asked for the SMTP password. HighLevel Support Portal

04

Decide: SMTP vs OAuth inbox sync

  • SMTP (send email from GHL using your Gmail SMTP): requires the app password above and is used for sending.
  • 2-way Gmail sync (OAuth) connects your inbox for sending and for receiving/seeing replies inside GHL Conversations and is done via the GHL "Email (2-way sync)" connect flow (recommended if you want in-app inbox replies). We'll cover both below. HighLevel Support Portal+1

B — Connect Gmail to GoHighLevel (Sending via SMTP)

(Use this if you want GHL to send email FROM your Gmail address via Gmail's SMTP servers.)

Navigate to sub-account

In GHL, go to the sub-account you want to configure. (If you're an agency, switch to the correct sub-account first).

Access Email Services

Navigate: Settings → Email Services (or SMTP & Mailgun in some accounts). Click Add Service. HighLevel Support Portal+1

Select Gmail provider

Choose Provider: Gmail from the dropdown.

Configure SMTP settings

Fill in the fields (example values):

  • Port: 587 (STARTTLS) or 465 (SSL) — 587 is common.

Save and authenticate

Click Save. GHL will attempt to authenticate — if successful, GHL can send mail using that SMTP connection.

Troubleshoot if needed

Troubleshooting: if you get authentication errors, verify 2-step verification + app password are correct and that you're in the correct sub-account when adding the SMTP. GHL notes special cases (e.g., Workspace admin settings) in their docs. HighLevel Support Portal

C — Connect Gmail for two-way inbox sync (receive & view replies in GHL Conversations)

(Recommended if you want incoming messages to show inside GHL and replies to be tracked.)

Connection steps

  1. In the sub-account, go to Settings → My Profile (or Settings → Email (2-way sync) depending on UI). Find Email (2-way Sync) and click Connect. HighLevel Support Portal
  1. Choose Gmail, and follow the Google OAuth prompts (select account → grant permissions → allow). This connects the inbox via OAuth and will sync messages into GHL Conversations for contacts that match. HighLevel Support Portal

D — Verify sending identity & deliverability (quick checklist)

1

Send a test email

Send a test email from GHL to a personal address (and to a Gmail, Outlook). Confirm it arrives and reply — check it shows in GHL conversations if you enabled 2-way sync.

2

Configure SPF/DKIM

SPF/DKIM: If you want better deliverability long-term, set up SPF and DKIM for the domain you send from (if you use a domain email like you@yourdomain.com). GHL recommends using verified sending domains or Mailgun for higher volume. (If you only use @gmail.com personal addresses, Gmail manages much of this but deliverability can be lower than a properly signed domain). HighLevel Support Portal+1

3

Consider advanced providers

If deliverability is critical/scaled: consider Mailgun or Amazon SES as the sending provider and verify domain + DNS — GHL has step-by-step guides for Mailgun. HighLevel Support Portal

E — Build an Email Sequence (drip) in GoHighLevel

There are two common ways to send sequences in GHL: Campaigns (Email Marketing) for scheduled/one-offs and Workflows (Automation) for automated drip sequences triggered by an event. For automated sequences, use Workflows.

Option 1 — Quick: Create a Campaign (one-off or scheduled broadcast)

  1. In GHL: go to Marketing → Email (or Email Marketing) → Create Campaign / Create Email. HighLevel Support Portal
  1. Choose a template or start from scratch. Use the builder to add content, merge fields (e.g., {{first\_name}}), and CTA links.
  1. In Settings choose recipients (list or tags), schedule or Send Now, and click Send or Schedule. HighLevel Support Portal

Option 2 — Recommended: Automated Email Sequence using Workflows

Plan

Plan the sequence: decide triggers (e.g., Form Submitted, Tag Added, New Contact), delays between emails (e.g., Day 0, Day 2, Day 5), and any conditional paths (if opened/clicked, then X).

Create

In GHL: go to Automation (or Workflows) → Create Workflow → choose Start from scratch or a Recipe (there's an "Email Drip Sequence" recipe). HighLevel Support Portal+1

Trigger

Add a Trigger (example: Form Submitted → filter to the specific form). HighLevel Support Portal

Configure

Add Actions in the order you want:

  • Send Email action → choose an existing email template OR create the email in place. Set subject, body, attachments, and from address.
  • Wait (delay) action → set days/hours between steps (e.g., Wait 2 days).
  • Add further Send Email, If/Else (opened/clicked), Add Tag, Remove from Workflow, etc.

Batch settings

Set Batch Size (for drip sending to avoid throttling) if your workflow has many contacts — the workflow UI often has "Drip" or "Batch Size" options for pacing. HighLevel Support Portal

Test & monitor

Publish & Test: use a test contact to confirm each step fires, emails arrive, links track, and opens/clicks evaluate correctly.

Monitor: go to Email Marketing → Campaigns → Workflow Campaigns to view analytics for emails sent through workflows. You can edit a workflow and republish as needed. HighLevel Support Portal+1

F — Quick testing checklist (do this before sending to real list)

Send test emails to at least two different providers (Gmail, Outlook).

Reply to a test and verify it appears in GHL Conversations (if 2-way sync enabled).

Confirm the "From" address is correct and SPF/DKIM is set (for domain senders).

Check links, merge tags, and image rendering.

If using Gmail SMTP app password, confirm authentication didn't expire and there are no admin restrictions in Workspace.

G — Short best practices & tips

Use verified sending domains

For higher volume and better deliverability use a verified sending domain + Mailgun/SES instead of sending large volumes through Gmail's SMTP. GHL docs and guides explain Mailgun setup step-by-step. HighLevel Support Portal

Personalize subject lines

Use personalized subject lines and keep the first 1–2 lines strong — these heavily affect open rate.

Include unsubscribe options

Add unsubscribe language if sending marketing to lists (legal/compliance).

Start with small batches

Keep a small initial batch (100–200) to watch deliverability before scaling — workflows allow batching. HighLevel Support Portal