How to Add a Lead Yourself

Summary

Overview: Add a lead by hand when someone contacts you outside Pippify, for example by phone or at an event. You can have Pippin send them an AI intro, or start a follow-up sequence right away.

Prerequisites:

• The lead's first and last name.
• To send an intro: the lead's email address (email intro) or phone number (SMS intro), and that channel connected.
• To start a sequence: at least one enabled follow-up sequence.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open the Add Lead form

1. In the left menu, click Leads.
2. Click Add Lead at the top right. (When you have no leads yet, you can also click Add Lead in the empty list.)
3. The form opens with the cursor in First Name, so you can start typing straight away.

Step 2: Enter the lead's details

1. Enter First Name and Last Name. Both are required.
2. Optional: enter Email Address.
3. Optional: enter Phone. Include the country code (for example +63 for the Philippines) or use the local format (for example 0917 123 4567).
4. Choose a Score: Cold (default), Warm or Hot.
5. Choose a Stage: New (default), Qualified, Quote Sent, Meeting Booked, Won or Lost.

Step 3 (optional): Send an AI intro

1. Tick Send AI intro message.
2. Under Channel, click Email or SMS. An email intro needs the Email Address; an SMS intro is texted to the Phone number.
3. Optional: in Lead Context, describe what the lead needs (for example "Wants a 3-night Cebu tour package for a group of 4"). Pippin uses it to personalise the intro.

Step 4 (optional): Start a follow-up sequence instead

This option appears only when you have at least one enabled sequence.

1. Tick Start a follow-up sequence. The sequence's first message is sent right away, so you can't also send an intro.
2. Choose the Sequence. Your default sequence is marked (default).

Step 5: Save

1. Click Add Lead.
2. The form closes and the lead appears in the list.

Verify It Worked

Success criteria:

• The lead appears on the Leads page with the score and stage you chose.
• If you started a sequence, you see "Lead added and the sequence started".
• If you sent an intro, Pippin's intro message appears in the lead's conversation in the Inbox shortly after. If your automation level is Review every reply, the intro waits in the Review Queue for approval first.

Troubleshooting

Common errors

• "First name is required." / "Last name is required.": Fix: fill in both names.
• "Enter a valid email address." / "Enter a valid phone number.": Fix: correct the format.
• "Email address is required to send an intro." / "Phone number is required to send an intro.": the intro channel needs that detail. Fix: add it, or switch the intro channel.
• "Add an email or phone number to start a sequence.": Fix: add an email address or phone number.
• "Lead added, but the sequence did not start: …": the lead was saved, but the sequence couldn't start for the reason shown. Fix: deal with the reason, then start the sequence from the lead's page.
• "Failed to create lead: …": the lead wasn't saved. Fix: read the reason, correct it and try again.

Limitations & considerations

• You can't start a sequence for a lead whose stage is Won or Lost: "Won and lost leads can't start a sequence."
• A lead you add yourself starts Unassigned. Because Sales Reps see only leads assigned to them on the Leads page, a Sales Rep who adds a lead finds it in the Inbox. A Sales Manager or the Admin can assign it to the rep. See How to Assign, Tag or Export Leads.
• An SMS intro is sent only if your plan includes SMS, and no intro is sent while the workspace is inactive or if the lead has opted out.
• Leads that arrive from your channels are created by Pippin automatically. You don't need to add them.

Next Steps & Related Resources

• Next steps:
  • How to Read a Lead's Profile
  • How to Put Leads on a Sequence
• Related articles:
  • How the AI Intro Works When You Add a Lead
  • How to Edit a Lead or Change Its Stage
  • How to Create a Follow-Up Sequence

Need more help? For more information and assistance, please send an email to support@pippify.ai.

Last Updated: 10/19/2026