---
title: GoHighLevel Email Setup Troubleshooting — 2026-04-05
type: article
created: '2026-04-05'
updated: '2026-04-05'
source_docs:
- raw/2026-01-08-karly-task-help-domain-records-112752983.md
tags:
- gohighlevel
- email
- dns
- lead-connector
- avant-gardening
- client-work
- action-item-open
- smtp
layer: 2
client_source: Avant Gardening
industry_context: b2b-services
transferable: false
---

# GoHighLevel Email Setup Troubleshooting — 2026-04-05

## Overview

Mark and Karly held a short working session to troubleshoot GoHighLevel (GHL) email configuration for [[wiki/clients/current/avant-gardening/index|Avant Gardening]]. The goal was to enable outbound email sending from GHL so that the client's evergreen email campaign could launch. The session clarified the domain configuration status and partially resolved reply/forwarding settings, but the core outbound-sending problem remains open.

**Attendees:** Mark Hope, Karly Oykhman
**Urgency:** First 4 campaign emails must be sent before a potential client handoff on Monday.

---

## Key Findings

### Domain Configuration — Already Correct

`mail.avantGardening.com` was found to be properly configured inside GHL. No new DNS records need to be added or sent to the client.

| Check | Status |
|---|---|
| SSL | Issued ✅ |
| Shared IP | Active ✅ |
| IP Warmup | In progress ✅ |

> **Note:** Karly had assumed the domain was misconfigured and was preparing to send DNS instructions to the client. Mark confirmed the existing setup is valid.

### Reply & Forwarding Settings — Configured

Under **Settings → Email Services → Reply and Forwarding Settings**, both fields were set to `sales@avantGardening.com` (the client's preferred address).

- **Reply Address:** `sales@avantGardening.com`
- **Forwarding Address:** `sales@avantGardening.com`

> ⚠️ **GHL UI quirk:** Addresses must be confirmed with an `Enter` keypress after pasting — clicking Save alone does not register the value.

### Outbound Sending — Unresolved ❌

The primary goal — enabling GHL to send outbound emails — was not completed. The session surfaced three possible approaches:

1. **Lead Connector (GHL's internal system)** — The domain and warmup are already configured for this path, making it the preferred option. However, neither Mark nor Karly could determine how to activate outbound sending within the Lead Connector UI during the call.
2. **Client's Gmail account** — Possible via GHL's "Add Service" flow, but requires admin-level access to the client's Google Workspace account.
3. **Third-party SMTP (e.g., SendGrid)** — Requires a separate paid account; not preferred.

---

## Key Decisions

- Stick with **Lead Connector** as the target email system (domain already warmed up, no additional cost or credentials needed).
- Do **not** pursue Gmail or SendGrid unless Lead Connector proves unworkable.
- Do **not** send DNS record instructions to the client — the domain is already verified.

---

## Action Items

- [ ] **Mark Hope** — Research how to activate outbound email sending via the Lead Connector system in GHL; send step-by-step guidance to Karly. *(open as of 2026-04-05)*
- [ ] **Karly Oykhman** — Await Mark's findings, then complete the email setup and schedule the first 4 campaign emails before Monday's potential client handoff.

---

## Related

- [[wiki/clients/current/avant-gardening/index|Avant Gardening Client Index]]
- [[wiki/knowledge/tools/gohighlevel|GoHighLevel]] *(if exists)*