How to use Webhooks in n8n, GoHighLevel and other AI Automation Workflows.

This article is in conjunction with the article: Understanding APIs in n8n, GoHighLevel and other AI Automation Workflows. I recommend reading this article first to fully understand webhooks.

What is a webhook ( "webhook endpoint" or "callback URL")?

A webhook is the URL used to send/push payload data (via HTTP Request) from a source application to a destination application whenever a specific event occurs within the source application.

Following is an example of a webhook used by GoHighLevel:

https://services.leadconnectorhq.com/hooks/ffsf4353kjflkjp34/webhook-trigger/2SDFDGE$Rd0DWp

Following is an example of a webhook used by n8n:

https://optimizesmart.app.n8n.cloud/webhook/22345b639-1dc8-5ba-cb2c-e994ffsfsfab7

A webhook URL usually contains the letters ‘hooks’ or ‘webhook’ somewhere in the URL. That’s one easy way to distinguish a webhook URL from a regular URL.

Whenever you think of a webhook, think of source and destination applications.

The source application is the one that sends the data. The Destination application is the one that receives the data.

If ‘GoHighLevel’ sends data to ‘n8n’, then ‘GoHighLevel’ acts as the source application and ‘n8n’ acts as the destination application.

Similarly,

If ‘n8n’ sends data to ‘GoHighLevel’, then ‘n8n’ acts as the source application and ‘GoHighLevel’ acts as the destination application.

An application can act as both a source and a destination, depending on whether it is sending or receiving data.

The destination application provides the webhook URL.

For example,

If ‘GoHighLevel’ is the source application and ‘n8n’ is the destination application, the webhook URL is provided by 'n8n'.

Similarly,

If ‘n8n’ is the source application and ‘GoHighLevel’ is the destination application, the webhook URL is provided by 'GoHighLevel'.

If GoHighLevel is the source and n8n is the destination, then GoHighLevel sends payload data (via an HTTP request) to n8n’s webhook URL (the receiver) whenever a specified event occurs within GoHighLevel.

Similarly,

If n8n is the source and GoHighLevel is the destination, then n8n (the source) sends payload data (via an HTTP request) to GoHighLevel’s webhook URL (the receiver) whenever a specified event occurs within n8n.

Source and destination applications communicate with each other through HTTP Requests and HTTP Responses.

The source application initiates communication by sending an HTTP Request (often a POST request containing payload data) to the destination application’s webhook URL.

The destination application receives this request, processes the data, and then returns an HTTP Response, typically confirming success or providing additional information.

This request–response mechanism enables seamless, event-driven communication between systems, allowing real-time data transfer, automation, and synchronization without manual intervention.

When a new lead is created in GoHighLevel (source application), you may want to send that lead’s data to n8n (destination application) for further processing.