Add a contact, import a contact list, add to workflow - GHL
A — Add a single contact (manual)
01
Sign in and select sub-account
Sign in and select the sub-account you're working in.
02
Navigate to Contacts
From the left menu click Contacts.
03
Add new contact
Click the + Add Contact button (top left).
04
Fill in details
Fill the fields: First name / Last name / Email / Phone / Tags / Custom fields as needed.
05
Optional additions
(Optional) Add Notes, Opportunities, or assign owner.
06
Save contact
Click Save. The contact now exists and can trigger workflows that listen for new contacts.
Quick test: open the contact record, confirm email/phone/tags saved, then send a test SMS or email if desired. HighLevel Support Portal
B — Import a contact list (CSV) — fast bulk import

Before you import: prepare a CSV with one header row. Use columns like first_name, last_name, email, phone, tags. Review GHL's CSV format doc to avoid mapping errors.
Go to Contacts
In GHL go to Contacts.
Start import
Click Import Contacts (usually an import icon or button top-left).
Choose import type
Choose if you're importing Contacts only or Contacts + Opportunities.
Upload CSV
Upload your CSV file.
Map columns
Map columns: GHL shows CSV columns on the left and field targets on the right — map each CSV header to the correct GHL field (name → First Name, email → Email, etc.).
Set duplication strategy
Choose Duplication Strategy: Create new, update existing, or skip duplicates (follow prompts).
Optional tagging
(Optional) Create a Tag during import so you can filter or bulk-add to workflows later.
Complete import
Confirm and start the import. Monitor the import status and fix any mapping errors shown in the import summary. HighLevel Support Portal+1
C — Add contacts to a workflow (three ways)
1) Automatic — use workflow Triggers (recommended for new leads)
Use a trigger so contacts are auto-enrolled when they meet a condition (Form submitted, Contact Created, Tag added, Appointment booked, etc.).
Steps:
  1. Go to Automation → Workflows → Create Workflow (or open an existing one).
  1. Click Add Trigger → choose trigger type (e.g., Form Submitted, Contact Created, Contact Tag). Configure filters (specific form, specific tag).
  1. Build the steps (Send Email, Wait, If/Else, Add Tag, etc.).
  1. Publish the workflow. Any contact matching the trigger will be enrolled automatically. Useful triggers: Contact Created (runs when a new contact is added) and Contact Tag (runs when a tag is applied). HighLevel Support Portal+1
2) Manual — add a single existing contact to a workflow
(If you want to push one specific contact into a workflow immediately.)
Method A — from Contact profile (UI can vary):
  1. Open Contacts → click the contact row to open their profile.
  1. Look for More Actions or a menu that includes Add to Workflow / Add to Campaign. Select your workflow and confirm.
Method B — if UI doesn't show that option, use the Add to Workflow action inside another workflow, or use the API endpoint to add the contact to a workflow programmatically. (GHL supports both the Add To Workflow action and API calls.)
3) Bulk — add many contacts to a workflow (CSV import or select + bulk action)
A. Immediately after import: the import flow offers a step to Add to Campaign/Workflow as a bulk action — you can select the workflow and add them during the import finish steps.
B. From the Contacts list:
  1. Go to Contacts, use filters (by tag, list, import batch) to surface the contacts you want.
  1. Select multiple contacts (checkboxes).
  1. In the bulk actions menu choose Add To Campaign/Workflow (or similar). Pick the workflow/campaign and confirm.
This is the fastest way to enroll an existing group into a drip. HighLevel Support Portal+1
D — Helpful extras & test checklist
Skip first steps for a contact
To skip first steps for a contact (drop them in mid-flow): GHL doesn't consistently allow choosing an arbitrary step when manually enrolling; you can add tag-based triggers or build branch logic. (There's an Ideas thread asking for "add to any step".) HighLevel Ideas
Test with a single test contact
Test with a single test contact: add them, apply the trigger tag / submit the form, confirm they enter the workflow and receive the first email/SMS.
Monitor workflow execution
Monitor: In Workflows → open a workflow → check Execution History / Enrollment Logs to see who was added and any errors.
Use tags strategically
Use tags during import so you can easily filter and bulk-add to workflows later. HighLevel Support Portal+1
Quick one-page cheat sheet (copy/paste)
1
Contacts → + Add Contact → fill fields → Save.
2
Contacts → Import Contacts → Upload CSV → Map fields → Choose dup strategy → Import → (optionally) Add to Workflow.
3
Automation → Workflows → Create → Add Trigger (Contact Created / Tag / Form) → Add Send Email / Wait steps → Publish.
4
Contacts list → filter → select rows → Bulk Actions → Add to Campaign/Workflow → choose workflow → Confirm.
5
Test one contact → confirm enrollment → check Execution/Enrollment logs.