# Associating Contacts using Custom Labels > Managing relationships between contacts is an important aspect of organizing customer data efficiently. GHL Customer Care CRM’s Contact Associations… - Source: https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/contacts/updating-contact-properties/associating-contacts-using-custom-labels - Section: Contacts / Updating Contact Properties - Reading time: 3 min - Images: 10, each explained below - Modified on Fri, 13 Jun, 2025 at 9:53 AM --- Managing relationships between contacts is an important aspect of organizing customer data efficiently. GHL Customer Care CRM’s Contact Associations feature allows structured connections between contacts and other objects, such as business partners, family members, and employees. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of setting up and managing these associations to improve CRM organization. --- **TABLE OF CONTENTS** - [What Are Contact Associations?](#what-are-contact-associations) - [Key Benefits of Contact Associations](#key-benefits-of-contact-associations) - [Where to View Contact Associations](#where-to-view-contact-associations) - [How to Create a Contact Associations](#how-to-create-a-contact-associations) - [How to View / Link Contacts Using Associations](#how-to-view-link-contacts-using-associations) - [Managing and Editing Associations](#managing-and-editing-associations) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#frequently-asked-questions) --- --- # **What Are Contact Associations?** Contact Associations enable structured relationships between contacts and objects in GHL Customer Care CRM. Instead of managing disconnected profiles, associations provide clear connections between related entities, such as spouses, managers, employees, or linked objects. #### **Types of Association Labels** - **Single Label:** A label that applies to both contacts in the association (e.g., “Colleague”). - **Pair Labels:** Distinct labels for each contact in the relationship (e.g., “Manager” and “Employee,” “Buyer” and “Seller”). --- ## **Key Benefits of Contact Associations** - **Improved Contact Organization:** Associations provide a structured way to manage relationships between contacts, making it easier to track connections and access relevant information in one place. - **Streamlined Communication:** By linking related contacts, businesses can quickly reference and reach out to connected individuals, ensuring smoother interactions and improved collaboration. - **Enhanced Relationship Management:** Whether it’s family connections, business partnerships, or internal hierarchies, associations help businesses understand and manage relationships effectively. - **Efficient CRM Workflow:** With clear associations in place, users can reduce duplicate data entry, quickly update linked contacts, and maintain a well-organized CRM system. --- ## **Where to View Contact Associations** Contact associations can be accessed in two main areas: - **Contact Profile View:** Within a contact’s profile, the right-side panel contains the Associations icon, which displays related objects and linked contacts. - **Objects Management Section:** The Settings > Objects > Contacts section provides an overview of all associations, enabling the creation and management of labels and relationships. --- ## **How to Create a Contact Associations** Creating associations involves a few steps: ### **Open the Objects Section** Go to Settings > Objects, then select Contacts. ![Open the Objects Section (image 1 of 10)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155042764435/original/icaJSGWvD4zLfPCra5H2p_QaMAz38Igvyw.png) **Open the Objects Section (image 1 of 10)** This screenshot appears in the "Open the Objects Section" section of "Associating Contacts using Custom Labels". The text alongside this image reads: Go to Settings > Objects, then select Contacts. The navigation path used here is Settings > Objects. Immediately after, the guide continues: Select the "+ Create Association" button to define a new relationship. - Path: Settings > Objects - Where to go: Go to Settings > Objects, then select Contacts. - Next: Select the "+ Create Association" button to define a new relationship. ### **Click "Create Association"** Select the "+ Create Association" button to define a new relationship. ![Click "Create Association" (image 2 of 10)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155042764456/original/VYaJ46n1_FIxelROYwCJ47GWdG88V8Aw-A.png) **Click "Create Association" (image 2 of 10)** This screenshot appears in the "Click "Create Association"" section of "Associating Contacts using Custom Labels". The text alongside this image reads: Select the "+ Create Association" button to define a new relationship. Immediately after, the guide continues: Pick an object, such as Contacts, Surfboards, or another available entity. - What to choose: Select the "+ Create Association" button to define a new relationship. - Next: Pick an object, such as Contacts, Surfboards, or another available entity. ### **Choose the Associated Object** Pick an object, such as Contacts, Surfboards, or another available entity. ![Choose the Associated Object (image 3 of 10)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155042764485/original/bQ3d4Zgz0nEMGT602BQCiMmVxiYu2pxRtQ.png) **Choose the Associated Object (image 3 of 10)** This screenshot appears in the "Choose the Associated Object" section of "Associating Contacts using Custom Labels". The text alongside this image reads: Pick an object, such as Contacts, Surfboards, or another available entity. Immediately after, the guide continues: Determine if the relationship requires a Single Label (e.g., "Partner") or Pair Labels (e.g., "Buyer - Seller"). - What to choose: Pick an object, such as Contacts, Surfboards, or another available entity. - Next: Determine if the relationship requires a Single Label (e.g., "Partner") or Pair Labels (e.g., "Buyer - Seller"). ### **Select the Label Type** Determine if the relationship requires a Single Label (e.g., "Partner") or Pair Labels (e.g., "Buyer - Seller"). ![Select the Label Type (image 4 of 10)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155042764538/original/wUckypt_EZjBO-f_0OvZFnyaXftFTFhGZQ.png) **Select the Label Type (image 4 of 10)** This screenshot appears in the "Select the Label Type" section of "Associating Contacts using Custom Labels". The text alongside this image reads: Determine if the relationship requires a Single Label (e.g., "Partner") or Pair Labels (e.g., "Buyer - Seller"). Immediately after, the guide continues: Select between Many-to-Many or Many-to-One associations. - What this covers: Determine if the relationship requires a Single Label (e.g., "Partner") or Pair Labels (e.g., "Buyer - Seller"). - Next: Select between Many-to-Many or Many-to-One associations. ### **Define the Relationship Type** Select between Many-to-Many or Many-to-One associations. ![Define the Relationship Type (image 5 of 10)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155042764594/original/zujX-ekNhLF60GVrIVWfzePlZsJSgAAvyQ.png) **Define the Relationship Type (image 5 of 10)** This screenshot appears in the "Define the Relationship Type" section of "Associating Contacts using Custom Labels". The text alongside this image reads: Select between Many-to-Many or Many-to-One associations. Immediately after, the guide continues: Once an association is created, linking contacts follows these steps. - What to choose: Select between Many-to-Many or Many-to-One associations. - Next: Once an association is created, linking contacts follows these steps: --- ## **How to View / Link Contacts Using Associations** Once an association is created, linking contacts follows these steps: ### **Open a Contact Profile** Navigate to the Contacts section and select a contact’s profile. ![Open a Contact Profile (image 6 of 10)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155042764620/original/6pnOVoglVfYRHUauQNzwiVCgePi9W4n5Qw.png) **Open a Contact Profile (image 6 of 10)** This screenshot appears in the "Open a Contact Profile" section of "Associating Contacts using Custom Labels". The text alongside this image reads: Navigate to the Contacts section and select a contact’s profile. Immediately after, the guide continues: Located on the right-side panel, this provides access to association options. - Where to go: Navigate to the Contacts section and select a contact’s profile. - Next: Located on the right-side panel, this provides access to association options. ### **Click the Association Icon** Located on the right-side panel, this provides access to association options. ![Click the Association Icon (image 7 of 10)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155042764672/original/JuQM4tlAWGX9Qg0L-DdsNiWVuJR1aIIVJg.png) **Click the Association Icon (image 7 of 10)** This screenshot appears in the "Click the Association Icon" section of "Associating Contacts using Custom Labels". The text alongside this image reads: Located on the right-side panel, this provides access to association options. Immediately after, the guide continues: Click “Add”, select the relevant contact, and assign an appropriate label. - What this covers: Located on the right-side panel, this provides access to association options. - Next: Click “Add”, select the relevant contact, and assign an appropriate label. ### **Add the Relationship** Click “Add”, select the relevant contact, and assign an appropriate label. ![Add the Relationship (image 8 of 10)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155042766212/original/tYwGsSppQbUaxBLCknQ2qWxpUYzxxnWbNA.gif) **Add the Relationship (image 8 of 10)** This animation appears in the "Add the Relationship" section of "Associating Contacts using Custom Labels". The text alongside this image reads: Click “Add”, select the relevant contact, and assign an appropriate label. Immediately after, the guide continues: The linked contact appears in the Related Objects section, and the association updates both profiles automatically. - What to choose: Click “Add”, select the relevant contact, and assign an appropriate label. - Next: The linked contact appears in the Related Objects section, and the association updates both profiles automatically. ### **Confirm the Association** The linked contact appears in the Related Objects section, and the association updates both profiles automatically. --- ## **Managing and Editing Associations** ### **Editing an Existing Association** Go to Settings > Objects > Contacts, find the relevant association, and modify it using the three-dot menu (⋮). ![Editing an Existing Association (image 9 of 10)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155042764834/original/0vI3b0qJz7Bkt6GLczej1qMpJE1gjbcXrA.png) **Editing an Existing Association (image 9 of 10)** This screenshot appears in the "Editing an Existing Association" section of "Associating Contacts using Custom Labels". The text alongside this image reads: Go to Settings > Objects > Contacts, find the relevant association, and modify it using the three-dot menu (⋮). The navigation path used here is Settings > Objects > Contacts. Immediately after, the guide continues: Within a Contact Profile, navigate to the Related Objects section, locate the associated contact, and remove the link. - Path: Settings > Objects > Contacts - Where to go: Go to Settings > Objects > Contacts, find the relevant association, and modify it using the three-dot menu (⋮). - Next: Within a Contact Profile, navigate to the Related Objects section, locate the associated contact, and remove the link. ### **Removing an Association** Within a Contact Profile, navigate to the Related Objects section, locate the associated contact, and remove the link. ![Removing an Association (image 10 of 10)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155042765305/original/2faMy4o40dghTlB4DnCg0DtRQgSPU_BUkg.gif) **Removing an Association (image 10 of 10)** This animation appears in the "Removing an Association" section of "Associating Contacts using Custom Labels". The text alongside this image reads: Within a Contact Profile, navigate to the Related Objects section, locate the associated contact, and remove the link. Immediately after, the guide continues: Q. What is the difference between Single and Pair Labels? - What this covers: Within a Contact Profile, navigate to the Related Objects section, locate the associated contact, and remove the link. - Next: Q. What is the difference between Single and Pair Labels? --- ## **Frequently Asked Questions** **Q. What is the difference between Single and Pair Labels?** Single Label: Both contacts receive the same label (e.g., "Colleague"). Pair Labels: Each contact has a distinct role in the relationship (e.g., "Manager" and "Employee"). **Q. Can associations be used in automations or workflows?** At present, associations serve as an organizational tool. Future updates may introduce automation capabilities. **Q. Can contacts be linked to custom objects?** Yes, contacts can be associated with predefined objects such as Surfboards, with additional custom object support expected in future updates. **Q. Can an association label be deleted?** Yes, but deleting a label is permanent and requires removing all linked associations first. **Q. How many associations can a single contact have?** A contact can have up to 10 associations, and one label can link up to 1000 contacts. This feature allows users to associate multiple contacts with one another using custom labels. This is particularly useful for businesses that need to manage relationships between contacts, such as family members or business associates. If you are looking to streamline communication and data organization for linked contacts, the information below will guide you through the key functionalities, benefits, and how to effectively use this feature. --- Documentation for GHL Customer Care. Support: support@ghlcustomercare.com