What is a Source?

Learning objectives

• You will understand what a Source is and the role it plays in lead processing.
• You will see how different types of Sources (Default, Standard, Account, and Custom) are used in practice.
• You will be able to explain how Submission Docs, seller configurations, and import leads features integrate with a Source.

Overview

Summary:
A Source in LeadConduit is a configuration that defines how a flow receives, maps, validates, and prices incoming lead data from various vendors, web forms, or integrations.

Why it matters:
Properly configuring a Source is vital because it standardizes data intake, enforces acceptance criteria and pricing rules, and ensures reliable integration with downstream systems—thereby improving lead quality and optimizing lead-based revenue.

Practical examples

Example 1:
Imagine you have a website with a custom contact form. You create a Custom Source that maps form fields (like first_name, email, and phone) to LeadConduit’s standardized fields. The Source is configured with acceptance criteria (e.g., a valid email) and pricing rules tailored to your cost structure. Every time a visitor submits the form, the Source ensures that the lead is correctly processed and integrated into your flow.

Example 2:
Suppose you work with a popular lead vendor whose configuration is available as a Standard Source in LeadConduit’s library. By simply adding that Standard Source to your flow, you leverage pre-built field mappings, default acceptance criteria, and vendor-specific pricing. This minimizes setup time and guarantees that common industry practices are automatically enforced.

Implications & applications

Key takeaways:

• A Source is the entry point for leads and directs how data is normalized, validated, and priced.
• It provides the configuration needed to translate diverse lead submission formats into a unified structure.
• Different Source types (Default, Standard, Account, Custom) enable flexibility and tailored processing for various use cases.

Practical applications

• Submission Docs: Detailed technical specifications that guide how a Source should submit lead data; these act as an API contract between you and your lead providers.
• Sellers: In LeadConduit, Sellers are the vendors supplying leads. By configuring a Source for each Seller, you ensure that vendor-specific rules, field mappings, and pricing apply.
• Standard vs Custom Sources: Standard Sources come pre-configured for common vendors, reducing setup time and ensuring consistency, while Custom Sources are used when unique configurations (such as proprietary web forms) are required.
• Import Leads: Use the Import Leads feature to bulk upload leads in CSV format when real‑time POST submissions are not feasible. This feature maps CSV columns to flow fields and validates data against your acceptance criteria.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What exactly is a Source in LeadConduit?

A Source is a configuration that defines how incoming leads are received, mapped, validated, and priced, acting as the gateway for data intake in your flow.

What are Submission Docs and why are they important?

Submission Docs are technical documents that detail the proper method and data format for a lead source to submit data to your flow. They ensure that all parties adhere to agreed-upon data standards.

How do Standard and Custom Sources differ?

Standard Sources are pre-configured for widely used lead vendors with established mappings and settings. Custom Sources are designed for unique or non-standard integrations such as your own web forms or bespoke vendor setups.

Who are Sellers in the context of LeadConduit?

Sellers are the vendors or partners who supply leads. When you configure a Source for a Seller, you set up the necessary rules and mappings to manage the leads they submit.

How do I use Import Leads?

Import Leads is a feature that allows you to bulk upload leads from a CSV file into your flow. You map CSV columns to your LeadConduit flow fields, validate the data against your acceptance criteria, and then import the leads, ensuring they are processed just as if they were submitted in real time.

Glossary

• flow-sources.png100 KB