Build Workflows in GoHighLevel

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Build Workflows in GoHighLevel Using the Advanced Visual Canvas

The advanced workflow builder in GoHighLevel gives you a visual canvas similar to tools like ClickUp, making it easier to design and manage automations. This guide explains how to use the canvas view to build, edit, and optimize workflows from the source interface.

By the end, you will know how to switch between the legacy view and the new canvas, add triggers and actions, connect steps, and manage complex automations in GoHighLevel.

What the GoHighLevel Workflow Advanced Builder Does

The advanced builder is a drag-and-drop visual interface for workflows. Instead of working only with a vertical list, you see all steps on one screen and can arrange them in a logical flow.

Key advantages of the advanced builder in GoHighLevel include:

  • Visual layout of workflow steps and paths
  • Easy connection between triggers, actions, and conditions
  • Clear view of branching, waits, and decision logic
  • Faster navigation and editing inside complex workflows

This visual approach is especially helpful when building automation for multiple pipelines, campaigns, or locations inside GoHighLevel.

How to Open the GoHighLevel Workflow Advanced Builder

You can switch any existing workflow into the new visual canvas or start a new one directly in the advanced builder.

Step 1: Navigate to the Workflows Area in GoHighLevel

  1. Log in to your GoHighLevel account.
  2. From the left-hand menu, go to Automation.
  3. Click on Workflows to open the workflows list.

You will see all existing workflows, plus options to create a new one.

Step 2: Open an Existing Workflow or Create a New One

  • To edit an existing workflow, click its name from the list.
  • To create a new workflow, click the button to add a new workflow and select a template or start from scratch.

Once inside a workflow, you can switch from the legacy list view to the advanced builder canvas.

Step 3: Switch to the Advanced Builder Canvas

  1. In the workflow editor, locate the option for Advanced Builder or Canvas View.
  2. Click to switch from the default list view into the visual canvas.

The workflow now appears as connected blocks on a grid, letting you drag, drop, and connect steps visually in GoHighLevel.

Understanding the GoHighLevel Canvas Interface

The advanced builder interface is designed to give you a full overview of your workflow. While layout details may evolve, the main components are consistent.

Main Areas of the Visual Canvas

  • Canvas Grid: The central workspace where all workflow nodes (triggers, actions, conditions) are placed and connected.
  • Trigger Node: The starting point that defines what enrolls a contact into the workflow.
  • Action and Condition Nodes: Each step is a block that can send messages, update records, create tasks, or evaluate conditions.
  • Zoom and Navigation Controls: Tools to zoom in, zoom out, and move around the canvas for large workflows.

This layout helps you understand the automation logic at a glance and is particularly powerful for larger GoHighLevel workflows with many branches.

How to Build a Workflow in GoHighLevel Using the Canvas

Once the advanced builder is open, you can add steps and connect them visually. The process follows a clear, repeatable pattern.

Step 1: Configure the Workflow Trigger

  1. Click on the Trigger node at the top of the canvas.
  2. Select the trigger type, such as form submitted, pipeline stage changed, tag added, or appointment scheduled.
  3. Adjust any filter or enrollment settings specific to that trigger.

The trigger node is the entry point and must be configured first for the workflow to function properly in GoHighLevel.

Step 2: Add Actions and Conditions

  1. Use the add-step control on the trigger node or any existing node.
  2. Choose the type of step to add, such as:
  • Send Email or Send SMS
  • Add/Remove Tag
  • Wait or Delay
  • If/Else Condition
  • Update Opportunity or Move Pipeline Stage
  • Webhook or other advanced actions
  1. Configure the settings for each new step (content, timing, filters).

Each time you add a step, a new node appears on the canvas in GoHighLevel, connected to the previous node.

Step 3: Connect and Arrange Workflow Nodes

The advanced builder lets you visually manage how contacts move through your automation.

  • Drag a node to reposition it on the canvas for better readability.
  • Use connection points (lines or arrows) to dictate the path between nodes.
  • For conditions, ensure you connect both the Yes and No paths to appropriate follow-up steps.

The arrangement does not change the logic, but a clean layout makes complex GoHighLevel workflows much easier to debug.

Managing Complex Branching in GoHighLevel Workflows

Conditions and branches are where the advanced builder becomes especially valuable.

Using If/Else Conditions on the Canvas

  1. Add an If/Else step at the point where you want to split logic.
  2. Define the condition, for example:
  • Contact has a specific tag
  • Opportunity status equals a certain stage
  • Field value matches a rule
  1. Connect the Yes output to one set of actions and the No output to another path.

This setup lets you create multiple dynamic journeys inside a single GoHighLevel workflow without losing visibility.

Handling Wait Steps and Timing

Wait steps control how long contacts stay between actions.

  • Insert waits before sending follow-up messages.
  • Use date-based waits for campaigns tied to specific events.
  • Review all waits on the canvas to ensure timing makes sense.

Because you can see all waits and delays visually, it is easier to confirm overall timing behavior across the workflow.

Editing and Troubleshooting GoHighLevel Workflows on the Canvas

The advanced builder is also a powerful tool for editing and troubleshooting existing automations.

How to Edit Nodes

  1. Click on any node to open its settings panel.
  2. Adjust content, filters, timing, or configuration as needed.
  3. Save your changes and verify that connections between nodes still match your logic.

Edits are instantly reflected on the canvas, helping you validate the full flow at once.

How to Remove or Reconnect Steps

  • To delete a step, select the node and use the delete option.
  • After removal, reconnect the previous and next nodes so that contacts continue through the workflow.
  • For conditions, confirm that both branches still have valid exit paths.

Always recheck the overall path to avoid dead ends inside GoHighLevel workflows.

Best Practices for Using the GoHighLevel Advanced Builder

Following clear conventions will keep your workflows scalable and easy to maintain.

  • Label branches clearly: Use naming and descriptions so future users can quickly understand each path.
  • Group related steps: Keep messaging, pipeline, and housekeeping steps clustered visually.
  • Minimize unnecessary branches: Combine logic where possible to reduce complexity.
  • Test new paths: Run test contacts through each branch to confirm outcomes.

The better organized your canvas, the easier it will be to enhance and extend automations over time.

Where to Learn More About GoHighLevel Workflows

For deeper technical details and the latest interface changes, see the official documentation for the advanced builder on the GoHighLevel help center:

Advanced Builder for Workflows – Visual Canvas

If you need strategic help designing automation architectures, you can also work with specialists through agencies such as Consultevo, which focuses on implementation and optimization services.

By using the advanced visual canvas builder effectively, you can create clearer, more reliable workflows in GoHighLevel that scale with your marketing and sales operations.

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