# Lead capture

Getting enquiries from your website into the CRM automatically.

Lead capture is configured under **Settings → Lead capture**. It is an administrator task, and
usually set up once with the team running your account.

## How it works

You create an endpoint — a private address your website posts form submissions to. Merlin
validates each submission, maps its fields onto lead fields, and creates the lead. A contact is
created at the same time if one does not already exist.

Every captured lead is marked with the source `lead_capture`, so you can tell at a glance which
enquiries came from the website.

## Setting up an endpoint

1. Open **Settings → Lead capture**.
2. Create an endpoint and give it a name that identifies the form.
3. Map the form's field names onto Merlin's lead fields.
4. Reveal the signing secret and copy it — it is shown once.
5. Give the endpoint address and secret to whoever maintains your website.

Submissions are signed with the secret so Merlin can verify a request genuinely came from your
site. Keep the secret private; if it is exposed, replace the endpoint.

## Website connectors

For common platforms there are ready-made connectors so no custom code is needed:

- **WordPress** — a plugin that posts your form submissions to the endpoint
- **Squarespace** — a script you add to your site
- **Wix** — connected through **Settings → Connections** rather than an endpoint

## Checking it works

Submit a test enquiry through the form. It should appear under **CRM → Leads** within moments.
If it does not, the usual causes are a mismatched field mapping or a secret that no longer
matches.