The best CRM for website enquiries: what to check before you choose

The checklist

Set it up in Cold Leads

1. In Settings → API keys, create a website key (lk_…). It is public by design: it can only create contacts.
2. Set the key's allowed website to your site's address, so the form can redirect visitors back to your thank-you page.
3. Choose the default stage (subscriber or lead), tags such as website or contact-page, and optionally a list.
4. Optionally pick an automatic campaign and a delay; each new contact from this key joins that campaign's audience.
5. Point your form at the endpoint (example below) and send a test enquiry from your own address.

<form id="enquiry">
  <input name="email" type="email" required>
  <input name="name">
  <textarea name="message"></textarea>
  <input name="website" tabindex="-1" autocomplete="off" style="display:none">
  <button type="submit">Send</button>
  <p id="enquiry-status" role="status"></p>
</form>
<script>
  document.getElementById("enquiry").addEventListener("submit", async (e) => {
    e.preventDefault();
    const status = document.getElementById("enquiry-status");
    const res = await fetch("https://coldleads.app/api/hooks/lead", {
      method: "POST",
      headers: { "x-api-key": "lk_your_website_key" },
      body: new FormData(e.target),
    });
    status.textContent = res.ok ? "Thanks, we will reply soon." : "Something went wrong, please e-mail us.";
    if (res.ok) e.target.reset();
  });
</script>

What happens to an enquiry

• A contact is created with the name, company, phone and message (saved in notes), the source web_form, the key's tags and stage, and consent status inquiry.
• Addresses on the global do-not-contact list are silently ignored, and the form still shows success.
• If the plan's contact limit is reached, new addresses are refused with contact_limit (HTTP 402); existing contacts are still updated.
• If the key has an automatic campaign, the contact joins its audience now or after the chosen delay, and the campaign sends within its daily cap.
• When the person replies, the reply appears in their chat and is classified; the first human reply moves the contact to lead.

infoCold Leads does not e-mail you about each new enquiry. Open the inbox's Today queue or the contacts list filtered by your website tag to see new enquiries.

When another CRM is the better choice

• You need deal amounts, forecasting and custom objects: a sales CRM such as HubSpot or Pipedrive fits better.
• You need landing pages, ads and marketing automation around the form: a marketing platform fits better.
• You need instant alerts in Slack or by e-mail for every enquiry: Cold Leads has no outgoing notifications, so add them in your form tool or with Make or Zapier.

FAQ