# Add a lead form to a Chirp or Collection

> Ask visitors for their name and email before the chat, after a few messages, or from a button, with their consent.

Source: https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/collections-leads/lead-form  
Plans: Essentials, Creator, Business, Academy  
Last checked: 2026-10-27

When you're done, visitors can leave their details, and you see them on your Leads page.

**Who can do this:** the account owner on any plan, and workspace admins. Editors don't see the lead
form.

## Set it up

1. On a Chirp: in the editor, **8. Sharing**, find **Lead form**. On a Collection: in **The page**. Save
   a new Chirp first.
2. Switch **Lead form** on, and choose when it appears:
   - **Before the chat:** visitors fill it in first. On a Collection, it shows instead of the Chirps
     until it's sent.
   - **After a few messages** (Chirps only): after 1 to 20 messages from the visitor. Switch on **They
     must fill it in to keep chatting** to hide the message box until they do.
   - **From a button:** only when the visitor clicks it. Set the **Button text**. A Collection's form
     starts here.
3. Write the **Title** and a **Short intro (optional)**. Choose whether to **Ask for their name** (No,
   Optional or Required). Email is always asked.
4. Write the **Consent box visitors must tick**, and add **Your privacy policy link (recommended)**.
5. To build a mailing list, switch on **Also offer an "updates" box for marketing emails**. "It starts
   unticked. Only leads who tick it are marked as wanting updates."
6. **Email me when a new lead comes in** is on to start with.
7. Click **Save lead form** (it shows once you change something). "Lead form saved. It applies right
   away." No publishing needed.

![The Lead form settings of Bike Fix Helper: switched on, shown After a few messages (after 2), with its title, intro, name optional, consent text, the updates box offered, and Where new leads go.](https://mjmtbasmrtksluvlnema.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/help-media/web-optimized/collections-leads/lead-form/SS-MKT-025-01__lead-form-settings__creator__detail__v01.webp?v=7bd2e420f4)

Then choose **Where new leads go**, if you like: see [Send leads to your email service](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/collections-leads/email-services)
and [Send leads to Zapier or a webhook](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/collections-leads/lead-webhooks).

## What visitors see

The form's title and intro, the name and email boxes, the consent box (with your privacy policy link),
and the updates box if you offered it. Your privacy link shows as "Privacy policy". The button
(**Continue** before the chat, **Send** otherwise) stays grey until they type an email and tick the
consent box. After a few messages or from a button, they then see "Thanks! Your details were sent."; a
form before the chat goes straight on to the chat.

![The Bike Repair Basics page after clicking Get the bike checklist: a small form with Your name (optional), the email box outlined, the consent box, the updates box, and Send.](https://mjmtbasmrtksluvlnema.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/help-media/web-optimized/collections-leads/lead-form/SS-MKT-025-02__lead-form-visitor__creator__desktop__v01.webp?v=b7e3010ebf)

Their browser remembers that they sent it, so they aren't asked again. A form after a few messages that
isn't required has **Not now**, which hides it for the rest of the visit; on a button form, **Not now**
just closes it.

## Good to know

- **Your preview doesn't show the form.** Open the shared link in a private window to see it.
- **One lead per email for each form.** Sending again adds to its count and updates the name.
- **The new-lead email goes to the account owner's email address,** only for new leads.
- **It's not a lock.** A visitor can start a new chat or use a private window. For real protection, use
  [Who can open a Chirp](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/publishing/who-can-open).
- **Spam:** up to 30 sends an hour from one connection, and 5 per email per form.
- **Only email people about marketing if they ticked "updates".**

## If it doesn't work

For visitors: **"Enter a valid email address."**, **"Enter your name."**, **"Tick the box to agree before
sending."**, **"Too many tries. Please wait a while and try again."** For you: **"Write the consent text
visitors agree to"**, **"The privacy policy link must start with https://"**, **"On a Collection the form can appear before
the Chirps or from a button"**, **"Lead forms come with every Chirp Builder plan."**