Automated Drip Campaigns: How to Turn Form Leads Into Paying Clients

Email follow-ups are the backbone of lead nurturing. With GoHighLevel’s automation engine, you can finally ditch the endless cycle of manual replies and let the system do the heavy lifting for you.

Here’s how it works: the moment someone submits a form on your site, an automated workflow kicks in. Instead of sending one generic email, you can build an entire drip sequence that rolls out over days or weeks. Each message can be customized with your lead’s name, the form they filled out, and even attachments if needed.

The setup is simple. Start in the Automation section, create a new workflow, and select the “Email Drip Sequence” recipe. From there, you’ll add a trigger: Form Submitted. Narrow it down by choosing the specific form you want to connect, and you’re ready to roll.

The magic is in the customization. Edit the subject line to grab attention, fine-tune your email body so it feels personal, and attach resources that add value. Every lead gets the right message at the right time without you lifting a finger.

When you publish your workflow, you’ve just created a virtual sales assistant that works 24/7, making sure no lead slips through the cracks.

If email is your steady handshake, SMS is your quick tap on the shoulder. People check their texts within minutes, which makes SMS follow-ups a game-changer for staying top-of-mind. GoHighLevel now makes it easy to blend SMS into your drip campaigns so you’re hitting leads on both channels.

Here’s the kicker: instead of blasting everyone at once, you can batch your SMS sends. That means cleaner delivery, less risk of carrier issues, and a more natural flow of communication. In practice, you set your batch size to 100 leads and drip them out daily. This way, each message feels timely and personal, not like a mass text blast.

To set it up, jump into Automation and start a workflow from scratch. Add the same trigger Form Submitted and filter by the form you want. Then add the “Send SMS” action. Write your message short and to the point. Pro tip: keep it under 160 characters so it lands as a single text.

Before your SMS step, insert the Drip action. Set the batch size and interval, click save, and you’re done. Publish the workflow and let it run.

With SMS layered into your automated drip campaigns, you’ll reach leads faster, boost engagement, and keep your business at the front of their mind.

Here’s the brutal truth: most leads never buy because they don’t hear from you often enough. It’s not that they’re not interested it’s that life gets in the way. Automated drip campaigns fix that by keeping your business in front of leads with consistent, timely touchpoints.

Email builds trust over time. SMS sparks instant engagement. Together, they create a one-two punch that turns cold form submissions into warm conversations. Studies show SMS open rates hover above 90%, while email consistently drives conversions when paired with smart sequencing. Ignore either, and you’re leaving money on the table.

For agencies, this means no more excuses about “we followed up once and never heard back.” With GoHighLevel workflows, every single form lead gets a structured series of touches. For small businesses, it’s like adding a dependable sales rep to the team without the payroll costs.

The impact goes beyond conversions. Drip campaigns show professionalism, reliability, and consistency, qualities that prospects remember when it’s time to make a buying decision. Instead of chasing leads, you attract them back into the conversation naturally.

This isn’t just automation. It’s about building stronger relationships that compound into long-term business growth.

Setting up automated drip campaigns in GoHighLevel is easier than you think. Follow these steps and you’ll have a fully functioning email + SMS system running in no time.

• The Main Menu on the Left side of your screen has all the main areas that you work in when using GHL

1.1 Click on the Automation Menu Item.

• Access the ‘Automation’ section of GoHighLevel
• You’ll now be in the ‘Automation’ section of GHL, where you can access the Automation section from the top menu:

1.2 Click on the ‘New Workflow’ menu link.

Click crewate new workflow and in the drop down menu select “start from scratch”

2.1 add trigger

• Select “Form Submitted” as your trigger.
• Add a filter: choose “Form is” and select the specific form you want.

2.2 Click Save to lock in the trigger.

3.1 Add the “Send Email” action.

• Customize the subject line to grab attention.
• Write your email content (personalized, clear, and valuable).
• Attach any resources (guides, PDFs, offers).

3.2 Save Action.

4.1 Insert a “Drip” action BEFORE your SMS.

• Set batch size to 100.
• Set drip interval to 1 day.

4.2 Save Action

4.3 Add the “Send SMS” action.

• Write a short, engaging message (under 160 characters).

4.4 Save Action.

• Click the three dots in the right side of the action

5.1 Copy Action

• Click Copy Action, in the sidebar copy all action, in this way you can create multiple sequence of Email and sms without adding actions manually

5.2 Paste Action

• Paste your action that you copy earlier, just refer to the image below to learn how to paste your Action that you copy

That’s it. You’ve just built a drip system that automatically nurtures form leads with emails and SMS at scale.

Automated drip campaigns are powerful, but the results come down to execution. Here are some insider tips to help you maximize your workflows.

Keep SMS short and sharp. A text over 160 characters risks splitting into multiple messages, which feels clunky and unprofessional. Use SMS for urgency, reminders, or quick nudges like “Hey John, did you see our free demo?”

Make emails personal. Don’t settle for generic subject lines like “Thanks for signing up.” Instead, use the lead’s name and reference the form they filled out. A subject like “Sarah, here’s what you requested” feels far more human and gets higher opens.

Balance timing. Not every lead wants a message at 6 a.m. Test your sequences to see when your audience responds best. For B2B, mornings might work. For consumer offers, evenings or weekends could be golden.

Respect opt-outs. Nothing kills trust faster than ignoring a DND or unsubscribe request. GoHighLevel makes it easy to track opt-ins and automatically stop communication when needed use it.

Finally, don’t overcomplicate things. Start with one email and one SMS, then layer on more steps as you refine. Simplicity beats fancy every time when you’re just getting started.

When you put automated drip campaigns into play, you’re doing more than just sending messages you’re building a system that works while you don’t. That’s the real business impact.

For agencies, it means scaling client campaigns without burning out your team. Imagine being able to tell a client, “Every single form lead will get multiple personalized touches automatically.” That’s not just a value-add; it’s a competitive edge.

For small businesses, it means consistency. No more “I forgot to follow up” or missed opportunities because you were too busy running the day-to-day. Your leads get the same professional experience every time, no matter what’s happening in your schedule.

The ripple effects are huge. You reduce lead leakage, shorten the sales cycle, and show prospects that your business is reliable. Over time, this creates trust and trust is what converts strangers into paying customers.

In short: automated drip campaigns don’t just save time, they create structure and predictability in your sales process. That’s something every business owner dreams about.

Once your automated drip campaigns are live, you’ll notice results stacking up quickly. First, expect a jump in engagement. Emails will bring steady opens and clicks, while SMS will deliver near-instant responses that keep conversations flowing.

Next, watch your conversion rates climb. By staying consistent with follow-ups, you’ll capture leads who would’ve otherwise gone cold. Instead of one touch and done, you’re building a rhythm of communication that gently guides people toward saying yes.

You’ll also see a drop in wasted leads. No more losing contacts because you forgot to reply or didn’t have time to chase them down. The system does it for you every lead gets the attention they deserve, no exceptions.

Finally, expect peace of mind. Knowing your leads are being nurtured on autopilot frees you up to focus on higher-level growth. Whether you’re scaling an agency or running a local shop, that mental space is priceless.

The bottom line: automated drip campaigns turn scattered follow-ups into a predictable, revenue-driving system.

Automated drip campaigns are more than just a time-saver—they’re a growth engine. With GoHighLevel, you can build workflows that send the right email or SMS at the right time, every time. That means fewer lost leads, more conversations, and higher conversions on autopilot.

We covered how to set up email drips with form submissions, why SMS batching adds speed and personalization, and what kind of results you can expect once your system is live. The bottom line? Consistency wins. And with GHL workflows, consistency is baked in.

Now it’s your turn. Log in, set up your first automated drip, and watch how much smoother lead nurturing becomes. Once you see the results, you’ll wonder how you ever managed follow-ups manually.

Have you tried automated drip campaigns yet? Drop a comment and share what’s working for you—we’d love to hear it.