Leads reach inDeal three ways: one at a time by hand, in bulk from a file, or automatically from a campaign. Missing contact details you add afterwards through enrichment.

**Contents**
- [Creating a lead by hand](#creating-a-lead-by-hand)
- [Importing leads from a file](#importing-leads-from-a-file)
- [Leads from campaigns](#leads-from-campaigns)
- [Enriching data](#enriching-data)
- [Next](#next)


## Creating a lead by hand

1. Click the plus button in the top bar. **New lead** opens.
2. Fill in at least **First name** or **Last name**. Without a name you see **Please enter a name.**
3. Add what you have: **Company**, **Role / title**, **Email**, **Phone**, **Lead source**, **Estimated value** and **Channel**.
4. Confirm with **Create lead**.

![The New lead form](https://avhmrgajilnfyuvkhect.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/helpcenter/leads/neuer-lead-dialog.png)

The lead then sits on **Qualify**. Set a **Follow-up date** right away, otherwise it will not appear in [**Open leads** ↗](https://app.indeal.ai/leads/open).

## Importing leads from a file

The import is its own page in Setup: [**Lead import** ↗](https://app.indeal.ai/settings/import). The **Import** button above both lead lists takes you there as well. The import requires permissions - with the **Sales** role it is not visible.

![The import page with dropzone and import history](https://avhmrgajilnfyuvkhect.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/helpcenter/leads/import-seite.png)

1. Open the page. At the top you see the hint: **Upload a CSV file with leads. The first row must contain the column headers.** Below it sits the **Import history**.
2. Pick your file via **Choose CSV file** - or simply drag it onto the area.
3. Decide per CSV column what happens to it. Whatever inDeal recognises confidently is already mapped and sits collapsed under **{n} columns mapped automatically**; uncertain matches carry the marker **uncertain match** and stay visible. For every column there are five options:
   - **Ignore** - the column is not taken over.
   - A **Standard field**: **First name**, **Last name**, **Email**, **LinkedIn URL**, **Phone**, **Company**, **Website**, **Role / title**, **Industry**, **Location**, **Employees** or **Estimated value**. Each field can only be used once.
   - **Attach as note** - the content is collected into a note on the lead, see below.
   - An **Existing field** - the values go into a custom field that already exists. Each field can only be used once.
   - **Create as new field** - the column becomes a new custom field with **Title** and **Type**, see [Custom fields in the import](#custom-fields-in-the-import).

   With **All open as note** and **Ignore all open** you decide the remaining columns in one go.
4. **Lead source** and **Channel** are set once for the whole import. They do not come from the file.
5. Start with **Import {count}**. The bar at the bottom stays visible while you scroll and counts the progress.

At least one name field, an email or a profile address must be mapped, otherwise you see **Map at least first/last name, an email, or a LinkedIn URL.**

![The mapping step with automatically mapped and open columns](https://avhmrgajilnfyuvkhect.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/helpcenter/leads/import-mapping.png)

### Custom fields in the import

You manage custom fields under [**Layout** ↗](https://app.indeal.ai/settings/layout), see [Customizing the layout: sections and custom fields](https://success.indeal.ai/hc/indeal/articles/layout-sections-and-custom-fields). In the import:

![Open columns in the mapping: Paket goes into an existing field, Jahresbudget is created as a new currency field](https://avhmrgajilnfyuvkhect.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/helpcenter/leads/import-eigene-felder.png)

- New field: You can choose the same types as in the layout editor. inDeal suggests a type based on the values, for example checkbox for yes/no, date or date and time for matching values. New fields are added to the end of **Additional data**. Their API name is generated automatically and never reuses the one of a hidden field.
- Dropdown and multi-select fields are created without options. You add the options in the layout afterwards. Until then the values of that column are reported and not saved.
- Values are converted when they fit the type:
  - numbers and amounts in German or English format, for example 1.234,56 or 1,234.56
  - dates as 2026-10-15, 15.10.2026 or 15.10.26
  - date and time such as 15.10.2026 14:30, in German time
  - checkbox with yes/no, true/false, 1/0, x, ja/nein
  - dropdown by the option's name or API name, case does not matter; for multi-select several values separated by semicolon, comma or vertical bar
- Invalid values do not stop the lead: the lead is created, only the invalid value is left out. Invalid are, for example, an unknown option, a date that does not exist, or a number with a leading zero or more than 15 digits (such IDs belong in a text field).

### On a repeat import everything is prefilled

If you later import a file with the same column headers, inDeal takes over your last mapping: at the top it says **Mapping taken from {date}**, the columns sit under **{n} columns taken from your last import**. If everything fits, start right away via **Import now**. **Reset** falls back to the automatic mapping.

### After the import

A summary appears with **{n} new**, **{n} duplicates** and **{n} errors** - plus how many new fields were created and how many notes were written. Columns attached as a note are collected into a note titled **Lead import {date}** in the activity list of each lead. If there were errors or values were left out, **Error report (CSV)** downloads the report so you can fix the data and import again. It has the columns row, field, raw value and reason, for example "Option "Gold" unknown". It opens directly in Excel; with an English interface the separator is a comma. Leads that already exist are skipped. **Start another import** begins the next run right away.

**Important, and the most common question afterwards:** imported leads are cold. They sit on **Qualify**, have no follow-up date and therefore do **not** appear in **Open leads**, only in [**All leads** ↗](https://app.indeal.ai/leads/all). They show up in the work list as soon as a reply arrives or you set a follow-up date. That is exactly what the note after the import says.

### Undoing an import

The import history in Setup lists every run with **File**, **Date**, **Run by** and **Result**. **Move imported leads to trash** removes a whole run again. Leads that have already been worked are kept - the dialog names the number. The action is reversible: via **Undo** or the trash.

## Leads from campaigns

Contacts who reacted to your outreach appear as leads automatically. The **Details** block then names the **Campaign** they came from. There is nothing for you to do. More on that in the Campaigns category.

## Enriching data

If a phone number or email is missing, **Enrich data** in the lead header helps. inDeal then searches publicly available contact details.

How it goes:

1. Click **Enrich data**. The button changes to **Enriching data …**.
2. If it takes longer, you see **Extending search across additional providers …**.
3. Afterwards the values found sit in the fields. Verified details are marked **verified**.

If a lead has been enriched before, the button reads **Re-enrich**; after a failed attempt, **Retry enrichment**. Hovering shows when it was last enriched.

Some leads are enriched automatically as they arrive. A note then appears at the top saying contact details are being searched and the page refreshes itself.

### Enrichment costs credits

Contact details consume credits, company data does not. Your balance sits at the bottom left of the sidebar as **{n} credits**.

| Detail | Price |
|---|---|
| Mobile number | 5 credits |
| Email address | 1 credit |
| Landline number | 0.5 credits |
| Company data | free |

Only what is actually found and newly written is charged. A field that is already filled is not overwritten and costs nothing. The number of providers queried makes no difference - the price depends on the field found. Direct dial and switchboard together count as one landline number.

If your credit doesn't cover everything, we add what fits. The order and what the lead then shows are explained in [Credits and usage](https://success.indeal.ai/hc/indeal/articles/credits-and-usage#when-the-balance-is-empty).

Your usage is in Setup under [**Plans & Billing** ↗](https://app.indeal.ai/settings/plans?tab=credits) in the **History**, broken down into **Email**, **Mobile**, **Landline** and **Company data**. More on that under [Credits and usage](https://success.indeal.ai/hc/indeal/articles/credits-and-usage).

## Next

- [Open leads and All leads](https://success.indeal.ai/hc/indeal/articles/open-leads-and-all-leads)
- [Editing a lead](https://success.indeal.ai/hc/indeal/articles/editing-a-lead)