Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care

Automatically capture third-party form submissions in GHL Customer Care using External Tracking. No Zapier or coding required—track leads, map fields, and trigger workflows instantly.

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Key Benefits of External Tracking
Automatic Form Detection
How DOM-Based Form Tracking Works
Smarter Field Mapping
How To Setup External Tracking
Supported Form Requirements
Workflow Triggers
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Articles

Capture form submissions from external websites directly into GHL Customer Care with zero manual setup. The enhanced External Tracking feature automatically detects supported forms like Gravity Forms, WPForms, and custom HTML forms, then sends submissions into your CRM in real time. This eliminates the need for Zapier, webhooks, or custom integrations while improving attribution and lead tracking accuracy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is External Tracking?
Key Benefits of External Tracking
Automatic Form Detection
Smarter Field Mapping
How To Setup External Tracking
Supported Form Requirements
Workflow Triggers
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Articles

What is External Tracking?

External Tracking is a lightweight script that connects your external website activity to GHL Customer Care, allowing you to track page views and automatically capture form submissions from third-party sites.

With the latest enhancement, External Tracking now automatically detects DOM-based forms and captures submissions without requiring manual configuration, making it significantly easier to track leads from platforms like WordPress, Shopify, Wix, and custom-built websites.

Key Benefits of External Tracking

External Tracking simplifies lead capture and improves visibility into external website performance, helping you make better marketing and automation decisions.

Automatic Form Detection: detects supported forms like Gravity Forms, WPForms, and custom HTML automatically
Real-Time Submission Capture: instantly captures submissions without delays or integrations
Automatic Contact Creation: creates or updates contacts immediately after submission
Smarter Field Mapping: maps fields intelligently to existing contact properties and custom fields
Attribution Tracking: captures UTM parameters, page URLs, and session data
Multi-Form Support: tracks multiple forms on the same page independently
Zero Configuration: no need for Zapier, webhooks, or manual mapping

Automatic Form Detection

External Tracking scans your website for supported forms rendered directly in the DOM, allowing most modern form builders to work instantly after installation. This removes the need for manual validation and ensures a seamless experience when capturing leads from external sites.

Supported forms include:

WordPress forms (Gravity Forms, WPForms, Contact Form 7)
Custom HTML forms
No-code website builders

Forms embedded via iframes or third-party widgets are not supported.

How DOM-Based Form Tracking Works

DOM-based tracking means the form and its fields must exist as readable HTML elements on the page. The tracking script looks for standard form structures and input fields that are available in the page DOM.

A supported form usually includes:

A valid <form> HTML element
Input fields that include name attributes
Fields that are visible and available in the DOM
An email field, when contact creation or contact matching is needed

External Tracking works best with forms that behave like standard website forms. This includes many WordPress forms, custom HTML forms, and forms created by no-code website builders.

External Tracking does not read form fields that are hidden inside an iframe or controlled entirely by a third-party widget that does not expose the form inputs on the page.

Smarter Field Mapping

Field mapping is handled automatically using intelligent matching, ensuring that captured data aligns with your contact records without requiring manual setup. This improves data accuracy and reduces the need for post-submission cleanup.

Matches fields using name, label, and existing custom fields
Stores unmapped fields safely for later use
Supports multiple field types (text, dropdowns, checkboxes, dates, etc.)
Displays only relevant fields in the UI

How To Setup External Tracking

Correct installation ensures that all external form submissions and page activity are captured reliably, enabling accurate reporting and automation.

Step 1: Get Your Tracking Script

Go to Settings → External Tracking
Click Copy Script

External Tracking settings page showing the script and “Copy Script” button

Step 1: Get Your Tracking Script (image 1 of 9) What this shows External Tracking settings page showing the script and “Copy Script” button What this shows Illustrates the "Step 1: Get Your Tracking Script" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". This screenshot appears in the "Step 1: Get Your Tracking Script" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". The text alongside this image reads: External Tracking settings page showing the script and “Copy Script” button. Immediately after, the guide continues: This script is unique to your account and acts as the connection between your website and GHL Customer Care. Do not modify the tracking ID. Image 1 of 9 What to copyExternal Tracking settings page showing the script and “Copy Script” button
Buttons and menus referenced Settings → External TrackingCopy Script
Next stepThis script is unique to your account and acts as the connection between your website and GHL Customer Care. Do not modify the tracking ID.

All 2 steps in this procedure

Go to Settings → External Tracking
Click Copy Script

This script is unique to your account and acts as the connection between your website and GHL Customer Care. Do not modify the tracking ID.

Script snippet with the tracking ID visible

Step 1: Get Your Tracking Script (image 2 of 9) What this shows Script snippet with the tracking ID visible What this shows Illustrates the "Step 1: Get Your Tracking Script" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". This screenshot appears in the "Step 1: Get Your Tracking Script" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". The text alongside this image reads: Script snippet with the tracking ID visible. Immediately after, the guide continues: Paste the script before the closing tag of your website so it loads on every page and can detect forms automatically. Image 2 of 9 What this coversScript snippet with the tracking ID visible
Buttons and menus referenced Settings → External TrackingCopy Script
Next stepPaste the script before the closing </body> tag of your website so it loads on every page and can detect forms automatically.

All 2 steps in this procedure

Go to Settings → External Tracking
Click Copy Script

Step 2: Install the Script on Your Website

Paste the script before the closing </body> tag of your website so it loads on every page and can detect forms automatically.

<script   src="https://link.yourdomain.com/js/external-tracking.js"  data-tracking-id="tk_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"> </script>

Example WordPress dashboard where the script will be added

Step 2: Install the Script on Your Website (image 3 of 9) What this shows Example WordPress dashboard where the script will be added What this shows Illustrates the "Step 2: Install the Script on Your Website" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". This screenshot appears in the "Step 2: Install the Script on Your Website" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". The text alongside this image reads: Example WordPress dashboard where the script will be added. Immediately after, the guide continues: This can be implemented across multiple platforms including WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Webflow, or any custom HTML site. Image 3 of 9 What this coversExample WordPress dashboard where the script will be added Next stepThis can be implemented across multiple platforms including WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Webflow, or any custom HTML site.

This can be implemented across multiple platforms including WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Webflow, or any custom HTML site.

Step 3: Add Script to Your Form or Page (Optional Example)

Although global installation is recommended, you can also place the script directly inside a form using an HTML block. This is often used in page builders or form editors for quick implementation.

WordPress Forms list selecting a form to edit

Step 3: Add Script to Your Form or Page (Optional Example) (image 4 of 9) What this shows WordPress Forms list selecting a form to edit What this shows Illustrates the "Step 3: Add Script to Your Form or Page (Optional Example)" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". This screenshot appears in the "Step 3: Add Script to Your Form or Page (Optional Example)" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". The text alongside this image reads: WordPress Forms list selecting a form to edit. Immediately after, the guide continues: Once inside the form builder, you can insert the script into an HTML block to ensure it loads with the form. Image 4 of 9 What this coversWordPress Forms list selecting a form to edit Next stepOnce inside the form builder, you can insert the script into an HTML block to ensure it loads with the form.

Once inside the form builder, you can insert the script into an HTML block to ensure it loads with the form.

HTML block inside a form with the tracking script added

Step 3: Add Script to Your Form or Page (Optional Example) (image 5 of 9) What this shows HTML block inside a form with the tracking script added What this shows Illustrates the "Step 3: Add Script to Your Form or Page (Optional Example)" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". This screenshot appears in the "Step 3: Add Script to Your Form or Page (Optional Example)" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". The text alongside this image reads: HTML block inside a form with the tracking script added. Immediately after, the guide continues: After installation, simply submit the form as a user would. The system will automatically detect the form and capture all supported field data without additional configuration. Image 5 of 9 What this coversHTML block inside a form with the tracking script added Next stepAfter installation, simply submit the form as a user would. The system will automatically detect the form and capture all supported field data without additional configuration.

Step 4: Submit the Form

After installation, simply submit the form as a user would. The system will automatically detect the form and capture all supported field data without additional configuration.

Example external form (Gravity Form) filled out on a webpage

Step 4: Submit the Form (image 6 of 9) What this shows Example external form (Gravity Form) filled out on a webpage What this shows Illustrates the "Step 4: Submit the Form" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". This screenshot appears in the "Step 4: Submit the Form" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". The text alongside this image reads: Example external form (Gravity Form) filled out on a webpage. Immediately after, the guide continues: Form submission confirmation message displayed to the user. Image 6 of 9 What this coversExample external form (Gravity Form) filled out on a webpage Next stepForm submission confirmation message displayed to the user

Once submitted, the form behaves normally from the user’s perspective while sending data to GHL Customer Care in the background.

Form submission confirmation message displayed to the user

Step 4: Submit the Form (image 7 of 9) What this shows Form submission confirmation message displayed to the user What this shows Illustrates the "Step 4: Submit the Form" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". This screenshot appears in the "Step 4: Submit the Form" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". The text alongside this image reads: Form submission confirmation message displayed to the user. Immediately after, the guide continues: Captured submissions are instantly available inside GHL Customer Care, allowing you to review and manage incoming leads. Image 7 of 9 What this coversForm submission confirmation message displayed to the user Next stepCaptured submissions are instantly available inside GHL Customer Care, allowing you to review and manage incoming leads.

Step 5: View Submissions in GHL Customer Care

Captured submissions are instantly available inside GHL Customer Care, allowing you to review and manage incoming leads.

Navigate to Sites → Forms → Submissions
Select External Forms to filter results

Submissions dashboard displaying captured external form entries

Step 5: View Submissions in GHL Customer Care (image 8 of 9) What this shows Submissions dashboard displaying captured external form entries What this shows Illustrates the "Step 5: View Submissions in GHL Customer Care" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". This screenshot appears in the "Step 5: View Submissions in GHL Customer Care" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". The text alongside this image reads: Submissions dashboard displaying captured external form entries. Immediately after, the guide continues: Each submission is also attached to a contact record, providing full visibility into the captured data and user activity. This allows you to use the information for segmentation, automation, and follow-up. Image 8 of 9 What this coversSubmissions dashboard displaying captured external form entries
Buttons and menus referenced Sites → Forms → SubmissionsExternal Forms
Next stepEach submission is also attached to a contact record, providing full visibility into the captured data and user activity. This allows you to use the information for segmentation, automation, and follow-up.

All 2 steps in this procedure

Navigate to Sites → Forms → Submissions
Select External Forms to filter results

Step 6: View Contact & Activity Details

Each submission is also attached to a contact record, providing full visibility into the captured data and user activity. This allows you to use the information for segmentation, automation, and follow-up.

Activity details panel showing captured fields and unmapped data

Step 6: View Contact & Activity Details (image 9 of 9) What this shows Activity details panel showing captured fields and unmapped data What this shows Illustrates the "Step 6: View Contact & Activity Details" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". This screenshot appears in the "Step 6: View Contact & Activity Details" section of "Tracking External Forms with GHL Customer Care". The text alongside this image reads: Activity details panel showing captured fields and unmapped data. Immediately after, the guide continues: External Tracking works automatically when forms meet basic structural requirements, ensuring reliable detection and data capture. Image 9 of 9 What this coversActivity details panel showing captured fields and unmapped data Next stepExternal Tracking works automatically when forms meet basic structural requirements, ensuring reliable detection and data capture.

Supported Form Requirements

External Tracking works automatically when forms meet basic structural requirements, ensuring reliable detection and data capture.

Must use a valid <form> HTML element
Fields must include name attributes
An email field should be present
Fields must be visible in the DOM

Not supported:

Iframe-based forms
Popup widgets without real form elements
Third-party scripts that do not expose inputs

Workflow Triggers

External Tracking enables automation based on user behavior, allowing you to respond to leads instantly and efficiently.

Page View Trigger: fires when a visitor lands on a page with the tracking script (even anonymously)
Form Submission Trigger: fires when a detected form is submitted

Available filters:

Domain
Page path
External form name
UTM parameters

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to configure anything after installing the script?

No. Form detection and submission tracking happen automatically.

Q: Does this work with Gravity Forms and WPForms?

Yes. Most DOM-based WordPress forms are supported out of the box.

Q: Can multiple forms on the same page be tracked?

Yes. Each form is detected and tracked independently.

Q: Are iframe-based forms supported?

No. Only forms rendered directly in the DOM are supported.

Q: Where can I view submissions?

In Forms → Submissions, as well as within contact records and activity logs.

Q: What happens to unmapped fields?