This guide shows you how to place calls from Tasks or Contacts, manage live calls efficiently, and log outcomes so your team can follow up consistently.
For setup instructions, see Set up lemlist in-app calling. For reviewing recordings and reporting, see Review calls, reporting & CRM sync in lemlist.
Why This Matters
A strong calling workflow helps you spend more time speaking with leads and less time switching between tools or updating records manually. When you call and log outcomes inside lemlist, your next steps stay organized and your team gets cleaner follow-up data.
Prerequisites
You should already know how to:
Set up your phone number and in-app calling with Set up lemlist in-app calling
Work with leads in Tasks or Contacts
Access call recordings and reporting with Review calls, reporting & CRM sync in lemlist
Core Lesson — Step-by-Step Workflow
Phase 1: Call leads from Tasks
This is the best workflow for SDR and BDR teams because it keeps calling tied to your campaign execution. You move through a structured queue instead of calling ad hoc.
Open your call queue. Go to Tasks, then click the Calls tab to see all call tasks in one place. This helps you focus only on leads who are ready for a call touchpoint.
Open a call task. Click a call task from the list to open the lead record and task details. This gives you the context you need before dialing.
Start the call. Click Call in the task view to begin dialing. This lets you call without leaving your workflow.
Manage the live call. Use the call bar to control the conversation, including options like recording, mute, keypad, transfer, and ending the call. These controls help you handle the call without switching tabs or tools.
Phase 2: Move faster through high-volume call tasks
If you’re working a large call block, speed matters. Focus mode and quick actions help you stay in rhythm and reduce repetitive navigation.
Quick skip for unanswered calls: use Mark as Done and Call next when a lead doesn’t answer. This closes the current task and immediately starts the next call.
Keyboard shortcut: in Focus mode, press Shift + ↓ to mark the current task as done and start the next call.
Why this helps: instead of reopening each task manually, you can work through your queue in sequence and keep momentum during call blocks.
Phase 3: Call directly from Contacts when needed
Use this path when you want to call outside a task workflow. It’s helpful for one-off follow-ups, inbound callbacks, or contact research.
Open the contact and start a call. Open a contact with a phone number, then click Call. This launches the dialer directly from the contact record so you can act immediately.
Confirm the number and dial. In the dialer, enter or confirm the number if needed, then click Call. This gives you a final check before placing the call.
Log call outcomes and notes
Logging outcomes during or right after the call keeps your follow-up process clean. It also makes reporting more reliable for you and your team.
Open the expanded call view during the call. While the call is live, use the dialer to see the lead summary and access the fields where you’ll log the result afterward. This keeps everything in one place while you’re still on the call.
Select a call status. After the call ends, choose the outcome that best matches the conversation. This helps you track what happened and decide the right next action.
Add notes. Type a short note during or immediately after the call so the next touchpoint has context. Keep it simple and actionable.
Customise call statuses
Call statuses are the outcomes you select after each call — for example, No answer, Left voicemail, Connected, or Wrong number. You can use the built-in defaults or create your own, and attach automations to each status to trigger follow-up actions automatically.
To create, edit, or add automations to call statuses:
Go to Settings → Call settings.
Click Edit call statuses.
Add a new status or click an existing one to edit it.
Optionally, attach an automation to the status — for example, Mark as Interested or Mark as Not Interested — to automatically update the lead's state when that outcome is logged.
Using Aircall? Call labels created in Aircall sync into lemlist automatically and appear as call statuses here. You can then attach automations to those synced statuses from Call settings → Edit call statuses.
Practical Application / Real-Life Example
Here’s a simple workflow you can use for your next call block:
Open Tasks and work from the Calls tab so every call stays tied to a planned workflow.
Make 10 calls in a row without leaving the queue.
For each lead, set a clear call status and add a one-line note with the next step.
For unanswered calls, mark the task done and move to the next one quickly.
Review recordings and transcripts later to improve your talk tracks and follow-up messaging.
Try it yourself: for your next five calls, make sure each note answers one question: What should happen next?
Troubleshooting & Pitfalls
Issue: I can’t place a call
Root cause: your calling setup or number may not be fully configured.
Fix: confirm your calling setup in Set up lemlist in-app calling, then verify you have a valid phone number selected in the dialer.
Issue: I’m losing time between calls
Root cause: you may be opening records manually instead of working from the call queue.
Fix: use the Calls tab in Tasks, then use post-call actions to move through your queue faster.
Issue: Follow-ups feel inconsistent after calls
Root cause: call outcomes and notes aren’t being logged in a consistent format.
Fix: always choose a Call status and leave a short note before moving to the next lead.
Issue: I need to call a lead outside my campaign workflow
Root cause: not every call starts from a task.
Fix: open the lead in Contacts and start the call directly from the contact record.