Custom Lead Capture in WordPress with GoHighLevel API
Default CRM embed forms can be slow, hard to style, and often look out of place on a modern WordPress website. For a recent real estate project, I replaced the standard GoHighLevel iFrame form with a custom multi-step lead capture flow built in React and connected directly to the GoHighLevel API—resulting in a faster, cleaner, and more conversion-friendly experience.
The Architecture (WordPress + React + GoHighLevel)
The frontend is a lightweight React component embedded inside a WordPress page. It manages:
- Multi-step flow and form state
- Field validation and inline error messaging
- A smooth UX that feels native to the site
on submission, the form sends a structured payload to a serverless function, which then securely forwards the lead data to GoHighLevel.
Security and Validation (Spam Protection Done Right)
Client-side validation helps users complete the form, but server-side validation is essential for security and data quality. To protect the endpoint and keep the CRM clean, I added:
- Server-side validation + sanitisation to prevent injections
- Rate limiting to reduce spam and bot submissions
- Controlled payload formatting so only clean, usable leads reach GoHighLevel
The Result (Speed + Styling + Conversions)
Compared to the iFrame version, the custom form, Loaded roughly 300ms faster. Allowed full design control to match the WordPress theme. Improved user experience, which led to a measurable lift in form completions for the client.