> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.servicebooked.ca/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Adding contacts manually

> How to add a contact by hand — for walk-ins, referrals, and anyone who didn't reach you through the system.

Most contacts land automatically (calls, texts, chats, forms). But sometimes you have a lead that didn't come through any of those — a referral from a buddy, a walk-in at your shop, a cold call you made yourself. Manual entry is for those.

## Add a contact

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click 'Add Contact'">
    From **Contacts**, click the **Add Contact** button in the top-right.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in what you have">
    Required: **First name** (we let you save with just this — you can fill in everything else later).

    Helpful but optional: last name, business name, email, phone, address (street/city/state/postal), tags, status, notes.

    Phone is masked as you type — `(613) 555-0100` style. We normalize to `+1...` format on save.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Add contact**. The new contact lands in your list and is ready for follow-up.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Default status for manual contacts

New manual contacts default to **Lead**. You can change this when adding (pick a different status from the dropdown) or change later from the contact's detail page.

## Source tag

Manual contacts are auto-tagged with `source: manual` so you can filter your CRM to "everyone I added by hand." Useful for distinguishing inbound vs. outbound prospecting.

## Quick-add from a conversation

If a contact reaches out via the widget without sharing a phone or email, you can promote them to a real contact from the conversation view:

1. Open the conversation in **Inbox**.
2. Click **Add to contacts** at the top.
3. Fill in the details you've gathered from the conversation.

Their conversation history follows them onto the new contact record.

## What about a customer who already exists?

Adding a contact whose email or phone matches an existing record will **update** the existing record rather than create a duplicate. We surface a "this matches an existing contact" prompt during entry so you can confirm.

## Next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Import from CSV" icon="upload" href="/contacts/importing-from-csv">
    For bulk imports — bringing in an existing customer list.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tags" icon="tags" href="/contacts/tags">
    Organize contacts with free-form labels.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>