Authenticate to the GHL Contacts API using OAuth scopes or an API key. The example here uses the contacts.readonly scope to illustrate read-only access; adjust permissions to meet your workflow needs.
Authorize Zapier App Connector to access your Contacts API. Use the client credentials or OAuth flow provided by your app to obtain an access token and store it securely.
GET /contacts/:contactId; GET /contacts/:contactId/tasks; GET /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId; GET /contacts/:contactId/notes; GET /contacts/:contactId/notes/:id; GET /contacts/:contactId/appointments; GET /contacts/; GET /contacts/business/:businessId; POST /contacts/; PUT /contacts/:contactId; DELETE /contacts/:contactId; POST /contacts/:contactId/tasks; PUT /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId; PUT /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId/completed; DELETE /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId; POST /contacts/:contactId/tags
Trigger: When a new contact is added or an existing contact is updated in Zapier App Connector, push changes to the GHL Contacts API.
Actions: Use POST /contacts/ to create a contact or PUT /contacts/:contactId to update; optionally attach notes or tasks.
Method path: POST /contacts/ to create; PUT /contacts/:contactId to update; GET to verify.
Key fields: email (unique), name, phone, external_id.
Trigger: When a task is created or updated for a contact in Zapier App Connector.
Actions: POST /contacts/:contactId/tasks to create; PUT /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId to update; DELETE as needed.
Method path: POST /contacts/:contactId/tasks; PUT /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId; DELETE /contacts/:contactId/tasks/:taskId
Key fields: contactId, taskId, title, status, dueDate.
Trigger: Notes or appointments are added to a contact.
Actions: POST /contacts/:contactId/notes; POST /contacts/:contactId/appointments.
Method path: POST /contacts/:contactId/notes; POST /contacts/:contactId/appointments
Key fields: contactId, noteContent, appointmentTime.
Build powerful automations without writing code.
Reduce manual data entry by syncing records in real time.
Scale CRM workflows with flexible trigger and action mappings.
Key elements include endpoints, triggers, actions, and data fields. Understanding these will help you design robust integrations.
A specific URL and HTTP method used to perform an action on the GHL API (for example, GET /contacts/:contactId to retrieve a contact).
An event in Zapier App Connector or GHL that starts an automation, such as a new contact being created.
An operation performed in response to a trigger, like creating or updating a contact in Contacts API.
The process of verifying access to the API, typically via OAuth tokens or API keys.
Map form fields to the Contacts API to auto-create contacts in GHL when a form is submitted, then log the submission as a note for context.
Automatically create tasks when a new contact is added or as due dates approach, ensuring timely follow-ups.
Attach notes from external apps to Contacts in GHL to enrich the CRM history.
Obtain your GHL API credentials and set up the Zapier App Connector integration.
Map required endpoints to your workflows, define scopes (e.g., contacts.readonly), and test the connection.
Create automation recipes, monitor runs and adjust mappings for reliability.
The Contacts API is a RESTful interface that lets you work with contact data in GHL, including retrieving, creating, updating, and deleting contacts, notes, tasks, and appointments. It’s designed for no-code and low-code automation via apps like Zapier, enabling you to orchestrate CRM workflows without writing server-side code.
Authentication is typically done via OAuth tokens or API keys. You will configure a client in your GHL and exchange credentials for an access token. Keep tokens secure, rotate them regularly, and scope access to the minimum required (e.g., contacts.readonly for read operations).
Endpoints include /contacts, /contacts/:contactId and related sub-resources for tasks, notes, appointments, and tags. Use GET to read, POST to create, PUT to update, and DELETE to remove. In Zapier, map fields such as email, name, and external_id to ensure consistent identity matching across systems.
Yes. You can create new contacts with POST /contacts/ and update existing ones with PUT /contacts/:contactId from Zapier workflows. You can also link tasks, notes, and appointments to those contacts by calling the relevant endpoints from actions.
If an API call fails, implement retries and exponential backoff in your Zapier workflow. The API typically returns error codes and messages to guide troubleshooting. Log failures, alert your team, and consider idempotent design to prevent duplicate records.
Rate limits vary by endpoint and plan. Plan for retries and backoff to avoid hitting limits. Use bulk or batch operations where possible and stagger requests to maintain reliability.
Data mappings define how fields in Zapier correspond to GHL contact fields (name, email, phone, custom fields). Example payloads show how to format a contact object and how to attach tasks or notes for a richer CRM history.
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