How To Merge Duplicates

Previously, we showed you how to capture leads from your websites. Sometimes, it is possible that the same leads/contacts are repeated. That is, you might have the same lead/contact more than once. This might clog up your leads list and basically cause a lot of confusion in the form of whether the lead has already been contacted or not and if the follow up tasks were established properly.

For example, consider the scenario in which there are two different leads but the contact information of both are the same. Now when you contact the customer twice, they might get irritated and tell you that they have already been contacted.

In Distributed Source, we have designed a feature called ‘Merge Duplicates’ which would help you cut down on these confusions by merging the leads/contacts which are similar. A lot of factors go into determining if different leads are the same. The same is also applicable to contacts. Using this feature is relatively simple and the following steps will guide you on how to use this feature.

1. Login to your Distributed Source account.

2. Navigate to the ‘Leads’ tab.

3. Now click on any lead whose details you wish to review.

4. The number of leads/contacts which are similar to this current lead will be displayed on the top just below the ‘Leads’ tab.

This is determined by a number of factors, such as if a lead’s/contact’s name or phone or email is the same as that of any other lead/contact

5. Click on this drop- down list and hover over the name to see all the details about the other lead/contacts which is similar to the current lead.

6. If you are convinced that both leads/contacts are the same, click on the ‘Merge Duplicates’ button.

7. A pop-up window will appear on your screen displaying the leads/contacts which are similar. Select the check-boxes next to the leads/contacts which you wish to merge into one.

8. Click on the ‘Merge’ button.

9. Another pop-up asking you to choose the records which you want to retained in the merge record will appear on the screen. Choose the values which are essential for your business. 

In the given example, we have two different names for the same lead - one named Mae and the other named Arnold. Here Mae is chosen to be the name on the record after merging.

10. Click on the ‘Merge’ button again.

11. Once you do this, the leads are merged together into one. This would ensure that there are no duplicates and consequently no misconceptions.

Note: The above example portrays a lead-lead merge. You can use the same method to merge lead-contact, contact-contact and so on. The lead-contact merge can be done both in the Lead and Deal detail page. Whereas the contact-contact merge can be done only on the Deal detail page.

Got questions? Tell us in the comments or write to us at support@distributedsource.com

Integrating JotForm With DistributedSource

 In our previous post, we showed you how to use your website’s form to capture leads into your Distributed Source CRM. The method involves using your Distributed Source Web-to-Lead URL in your website’s contact form, so that you can capture and save information of leads in your Distributed Source account.

 If you are using the very popular Jotform form builder to power your website’s contact form, the following guide will help you configure your Jotform contact form so that contact information of your leads is captured and saved in your Distributed Source account.

1. Login to Distributed Source.

2. Go to "Settings".

3. Click on “Capture Leads”.

4. Copy your 'Distributed Source Web-to-Lead URL'. Keep this URL handy, you will need it later.

5. Go to the JotForm website and login to your account.

6. Click “My Forms”.

7. Select the form which you have embedded in your website.

8. Click the "More" drop down menu.

9. Choose the "View Form" option.

10. A pop up window will appear on your screen. Make a note of the Form ID from this window. You will need it later.

In order to send the information on your Jotform contact form to your Distributed Source CRM, you need to link your form with Distributed Source through Jotform’s API. This is achieved through your Jotform api key, the id of your form and the DS web-to-Lead URL.

If all of this sounds too geeky, just follow the steps and your form should be ready to send lead information to your Distributed Source account.

11 . Within your Jotform account, click the small icon at the top right corner of the page and choose     “Account”.

12. Next, click the “API” link in the left sidebar.

13. In the API section of your Jotform account, hit the “Create New Key” button.

14. Copy the API key that Jotform generates for you. Keep this handy, you will need it later.

So what have we got?

• Your Distributed Source Web to lead URL
• Your Jotform FORM ID.
• Your Jotform API key.

You are all set to hook your Jotform contact form with your Distributed Source account. This requires the following final step.

15. Go to the JotForm’s API page choose the "/form/{id}/webhooks" option in the left sidebar.

16. There are three text fields labelled under "Demo" which needs to filled to capture the information.

Remember you copied your Distributed Source Web-to-Lead URL in STEP 4, your form ID in STEP 10 and Jotform API key in STEP 14? Enter the same information in their respective fields - apiKey, id and webhookURL text fields.

 When you have entered all of the above information, your form should look like this:

17. All done, now hit the “Try it out” button.

18. You should see the following “200 Response code”

To test it out, go to your website and fill in your Jotform contact form with some sample data. When you submit the form, you will receive a new submission in your Jotform account dashboard. At the same time, you will get a new lead in your Distributed Source.

Note: You can also import contacts in Distributed Source  from a CSV file.

Got questions? Please write to us at support@distributedsource.com and we will get back to you.