HighLevel
Module 3 of 6

Setting UpCommunication Channels

Email, SMS, and phone are the backbone of your marketing machine. Get them configured correctly now and you'll avoid the #1 beginner mistake — emails landing in spam.

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You need a connected email service to send any emails from GoHighLevel — campaigns, confirmations, workflow automations, everything. You have two options:

Recommended for Beginners

GHL's built-in email service. Zero configuration needed — it works out of the box the moment you create your Sub-Account. Pay-as-you-go pricing.

No SMTP setup required
Built-in analytics
Pay per email sent
Automatic warm-up
1

Navigate to Settings → Email Services

Inside your Sub-Account, open Settings from the left sidebar, then select Email Services.
2

Select LeadConnector (Recommended)

Click LeadConnector to enable GHL's built-in email service. It activates instantly — no API keys or SMTP credentials needed.
3

Verify Your Sending Domain

Add the domain you connected in Module 2. GHL will give you the DNS records needed for email authentication (next section).
Start with LeadConnector. You can always switch to Mailgun later as your volume grows. Don't over-engineer on day one.
This is critical. Since February 2024, Gmail and Yahoo require proper email authentication. Skip this step and your emails will go straight to spam. This is the #1 failure point for beginners.

There are three DNS records you need to add. Each one follows a simple Why → How → Verify pattern. Click each to expand:

Why It Matters

Lists the servers authorised to send email on behalf of your domain. Without it, receiving servers may reject or spam-filter your messages.

How to Set It Up

GoHighLevel provides the TXT record value in Settings → Email Services. Add it to your domain's DNS as a TXT record with host "@".

Example:v=spf1 include:_spf.example.com ~all

Verify: Send a test email and check the headers. You should see "spf=pass" in the authentication results.

DMARC tip for beginners: Start with a lenient policy (p=none). This monitors traffic without rejecting emails, which is ideal while you're getting set up. You can tighten it to p=quarantine or p=reject later.

GoHighLevel supports both SMS and voice calling. Just like email, you have a choice of provider:

Recommended for Beginners

GHL's built-in phone system. Purchase numbers directly inside the platform, and calls and SMS are billed through GHL. Simplest setup possible.

Buy numbers in-app
Simple pay-as-you-go
No API setup needed
Built-in call tracking
1

Navigate to Settings → Phone Numbers

In your Sub-Account settings, click Phone Numbers.
2

Purchase Your First Number

Click "Add Number" and search for a local or toll-free number. Select one and confirm the purchase.
3

Set as Default

Assign the number as your default for outbound SMS and calls within the Sub-Account.
A2P 10DLC Compliance: If you're sending SMS to US numbers, you must register for A2P 10DLC. This is a carrier requirement for business text messaging. GoHighLevel walks you through the registration process in Settings → Phone Numbers → Trust Center. Don't skip this or your messages won't be delivered.

Verify all your communication channels are properly configured:

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What's Next?

Your communication channels are live! In Module 4, you'll build the actual marketing assets — structuring your CRM with contacts and pipelines, then creating your first lead-capture funnel.

Ready to Set Up Your Channels?

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