Switch from Constant Contact to GoHighLevel without losing lists, segments, or deliverability

Move from Constant Contact to GoHighLevel in one week. Keep subscribers and segmentation, rebuild automations cleanly, protect inbox placement.

Who this helps

Local businesses, newsletters, nonprofits, and SMBs using Constant Contact lists, segments, tags, sign up forms, simple automations, events, and social posting, now needing full CRM, Workflows, funnels, calendars, pipelines, and ad conversions in one place.

What you keep

• Subscribers, tags, custom fields, segments mirrored as tags and Smart Lists
• Suppression, unsubscribed and non-subscribable contacts imported as Email DND
• Email content, rebuilt as Templates and Workflow emails
• Event registrations moved to GoHighLevel Forms and Calendars, attendance tracked with custom fields

What you rebuild

• Automated series and triggers recreated as GoHighLevel Workflows with triggers, waits, conditions, goals
• Segments reproduced as Smart Lists using tags, fields, engagement dates, and purchase events
• Forms, landing pages, and surveys rebuilt in Forms, Funnels, and Surveys
• Social posts scheduled in Social Planner, replacing Constant Contact’s social tool

The 7 day, zero downtime plan

Day 0, domain setup

• Create a sending subdomain, for example mail.yourbrand.com
• Add SPF, DKIM, DMARC in DNS, verify the domain inside GoHighLevel
• Connect Stripe, Shopify, or WooCommerce if you sell

Day 1, export and mapping

• From Constant Contact, export contacts with status, lists, tags, custom fields, last activity
• Export Unsubscribed and other non-subscribable contacts as a separate CSV
• Define mapping, lists to tags, segments to Smart Lists, fields one to one
• Create needed custom fields in GoHighLevel, for example last_engaged_at, member_status

Day 2, import with suppression

• Import active contacts, map email, name, phone, fields, tags
• Import Unsubscribed and non-subscribable as Email DND, spot check records
• Build Smart Lists that mirror key segments, new leads, VIPs, 90 day engaged, lapsed

Day 3, forms, pages, events

• Rebuild Constant Contact forms as GoHighLevel Forms, add hidden fields for utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, gclid, wbraid, fbclid
• Recreate top landing pages in Funnels or Sites, match URLs if possible
• Replace Event pages with a Form plus Calendar or a Funnel page plus Order Form if you charge

Day 4, automations to Workflows

• Rebuild core flows, Welcome, Lead magnet, Nurture, Promo, Reactivation, Event reminders and follow ups
• Use triggers, form submitted, tag added, purchase received, appointment status changed, email event opened or clicked
• Replace “goals” with Event happened checks and Go To steps
• Add a preference center flow, set Email DND on opt-out choices without deleting contacts

Day 5, templates and warmup

• Recreate headers, footers, legal links, unsubscribe and preferences
• Warm sending by cohorts, recent clickers, then recent openers, then 90 day engaged, hold cold contacts
• Seed test to Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, verify inbox placement

Day 6, cutover

• Swap all site forms and pages to GoHighLevel versions
• Pause Constant Contact automations and scheduled campaigns, keep the account for reporting 2 to 4 weeks
• Turn on Google Ads offline conversions and Meta Conversions API from Workflows

Day 7, monitor and tighten

• Watch opens, clicks, replies, unsubscribes, complaints, bounces, and attributed conversions
• Consolidate tags, standardize naming, lock Smart Lists and core Workflows
• Document DNS, list health, mapping, and sending thresholds

Mapping guide, Constant Contact to GoHighLevel

Single list strategy, use Smart Lists for targeting, avoid duplicate audiences.

Double opt in in GoHighLevel

• Trigger, form submitted
• Send confirmation email with a trigger link
• Wait for confirmation link click
• Set opt_in = confirmed, add tag confirmed, start the correct Workflow

Deliverability checklist

• SPF, DKIM, DMARC pass, From domain matches the authenticated domain
• Warm by engagement cohorts, complaint rate under 0.1 percent, bounce rate under 2 percent
• Email Events enabled in Workflows, opened, clicked, replied filters scoped to each send
• Suppression imported as Email DND and validated with test contacts

Common pitfalls and fixes

• Segment counts differ, align rolling windows and last_engaged_at logic, check timezone
• Branches on opens or clicks do not fire, scope Email Events to the same message or campaign and extend waits
• Event attendance not tracked, add a “checked in” tag or field updated by a QR form at the venue
• Cold segments hurt inboxing, hold 180 day inactive and run a re-permission Workflow first

FAQ

Can I keep my lists and segments
Yes. Convert lists to tags, rebuild segments as Smart Lists with tags, fields, and date filters.

Do unsubscribes stay suppressed
Yes. Import Unsubscribed and other non-subscribable contacts as Email DND. Test a few records.

Can I replicate automated series
Yes. Rebuild them as Workflows with the same logic, triggers, waits, and goals.

How do I replace Events
Use a GoHighLevel Form and Calendar or a Funnel page for registration, add reminders and post-event follow ups in Workflows.

Do I need to re confirm my list
No, if you import status and suppression correctly. Only new opt-ins use your double opt-in flow.