GHL Email & SMS Marketing

Overview

GoHighLevel centralizes all communication channels into a unified inbox. This covers email marketing, SMS/MMS messaging, WhatsApp, social media DMs, and multi-channel campaign strategies.

Unified Inbox

Supported Channels

Inbox Best Practices

1. Respond within 5 minutes — Speed-to-lead is critical for conversion
2. Use canned responses — Pre-write responses for common questions
3. Assign conversations — Route to the right team member
4. Mark as read/unread — Keep inbox organized
5. Use internal notes — Coordinate with team members on a conversation
6. Set up notifications — Get alerted for new messages across all channels

Email Marketing

Email Service Options

Email Configuration

1. Connect email service in Settings → Email Services
2. Verify sending domain — Add DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
3. Set default "From" address — yourname@yourdomain.com
4. Configure tracking — Open tracking, click tracking, unsubscribe link

Email Builder Features

• Drag-and-drop editor with pre-built blocks
• HTML editor for custom code
• Merge fields — {{contact.first_name}}, {{contact.company}}, etc.
• Dynamic content — Show/hide sections based on tags or custom fields
• A/B testing — Test subject lines, content, send times
• Templates library — Save and reuse email designs

Email Campaign Best Practices

1. Subject lines — Keep under 50 characters; personalize with first name
2. Preview text — Add compelling preview text (shown in inbox next to subject)
3. Mobile-first design — 70%+ of emails are opened on mobile
4. Single CTA — One clear action per email
5. Personalization — Use merge fields and behavioral segmentation
6. Send time — Test optimal send times for your audience
7. Clean your list — Remove bounced, unsubscribed, and inactive contacts
8. Warm up new domains — Start with small volumes and increase gradually

Deliverability Checklist

• SPF record configured
• DKIM record configured
• DMARC record configured
• Custom tracking domain set up
• Sending domain verified
• Unsubscribe link in every email
• Physical address in footer
• List hygiene (remove bounces regularly)
• Warm-up schedule for new domains (2-4 weeks)

SMS Marketing

Setup

1. Get an LC Phone number in Settings → Phone Numbers
2. Register for A2P (Application-to-Person) — Required for US businesses
3. Verify your brand through The Campaign Registry (TCR)
4. Set up compliance — Opt-in confirmation, opt-out handling

SMS Best Practices

A2P Registration (US)

Required for all US-based SMS sending — Without A2P registration, messages may be blocked by carriers.

1. Brand Registration — Register your business with The Campaign Registry
2. Campaign Registration — Register each use case (marketing, support, etc.)
3. Approval — Wait for carrier approval (2-15 business days)
4. Monitor — Track message delivery rates and carrier feedback

SMS Compliance Rules

• TCPA Compliance — Written consent required before sending marketing SMS
• Opt-in required — Contacts must explicitly agree to receive messages
• Opt-out honored immediately — When someone texts STOP, cease all messages
• Business hours — Avoid sending before 8 AM or after 9 PM local time
• Content restrictions — No SHAFT content (Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco)

WhatsApp Integration

Setup

1. Connect WhatsApp Business API through GHL settings
2. Verify your business phone number
3. Create message templates (pre-approved by WhatsApp)
4. Configure in Conversation AI or Workflow actions

WhatsApp Features

• Template messages (marketing, utility, authentication)
• Free-form messaging within 24-hour conversation window
• Rich media (images, documents, videos)
• Interactive buttons and quick replies
• Integration with Conversation AI

Multi-Channel Sequences

Campaign Structure

Day 0: SMS — Immediate follow-up ("Thanks for reaching out!")
Day 0: Email — Welcome email with value proposition
Day 1: SMS — "Did you get a chance to review?"
Day 3: Email — Case study / testimonial
Day 5: SMS — Direct CTA with booking link
Day 7: Email — Final value-add content
Day 10: Voicemail Drop — Personal touch
Day 14: SMS — Last chance / special offer

Channel Selection Guide

Template Management

Email Templates

• Create reusable email templates in Marketing → Emails → Templates
• Save designed emails as templates for workflow use
• Organize templates by category (welcome, follow-up, promotional, etc.)

SMS Templates

• Save frequently used SMS messages as snippets
• Use custom values for business-specific content
• Create templates for each stage of the customer journey

Template Naming Convention

[Channel] - [Purpose] - [Stage]
Examples:
  EMAIL - Welcome - New Lead
  SMS - Reminder - 24hr Before
  SMS - Follow-Up - Day 3
  EMAIL - Review Request - Post Service

Key Metrics to Track

Key Resources

• LC Email Setup: Settings → Email Services
• Phone Numbers: Settings → Phone Numbers
• A2P Registration: Settings → Phone Numbers → Trust Center
• Templates: Marketing → Emails / SMS Templates
• Compliance: TCPA Guidelines