Why This Matters
Calling is often the difference between a warm lead and a closed deal—but switching between tools can slow you down. By learning to call leads from within lemlist, you keep all your outreach in one place, save time, and ensure that call outcomes, notes and recordings automatically sync back to your CRM. You can also move quickly through call tasks when prospects don’t answer, so you spend less time waiting and more time connecting.
Prerequisites
You should already:
Have at least one phone number connected or purchased in lemlist (see Set up In‑App Calling).
Understand how to create a campaign and add steps (see Getting Started: Create your first campaign).
Have leads with phone numbers in your lemlist workspace; call icons only appear when a lead has a valid phone number.
Be comfortable navigating the Tasks section and the Inbox or Contacts view.
Core Lesson – Step‑by‑Step Workflow
Phase 1: Plan Calls within a Campaign
Add a call step to your sequence. When designing a campaign, click + Add Step and select Call. Write a short note with talking points or objectives for your team. This step will create call tasks for each lead at the scheduled time.
Launch your campaign. Once your campaign is ready, click Launch. When each lead reaches the call step, a Call task appears in your Tasks section. You’ll see the lead’s name, phone number, and any notes you added.
Enter Focus mode to run through call tasks. In the Tasks section, click Focus mode to open a dedicated environment where you can complete call tasks without distractions. The dialer loads automatically, and tasks advance as you complete calls.
Phase 2: Call Leads from the Inbox, Contacts or the Chrome extension
Locate your lead. Navigate to the Inbox or Contacts tab and find the lead you want to call. The phone icon is active only if the lead has a phone number.
Open the dialer. Click the phone icon next to the lead’s name. This opens the lemlist dialer panel.
Start the call. Click the blue call button to initiate the call. If you need premium audio, toggle it on before calling (see Improve Call Quality guide).
Use call controls during the conversation. While on the call, you can:
Mute yourself when you need to listen silently.
Pause recording if call recording is enabled.
Take notes in the Notes panel to capture important details.
End the call by clicking the red button when finished.
📸 Screenshot: Dialer panel showing buttons for call, mute, pause recording, notes, and end call.
Phase 3: Navigate Call Tasks Efficiently
Mark unanswered calls as done and move on. More than half of calls go unanswered. To keep your momentum, use the Mark as Done and Call next button whenever a call isn’t answered. This single click closes the current task and immediately launches the next call in your sequence.
Use keyboard shortcuts for speed. Press Shift + ↓ (down arrow) to mark a call as done and start the next one without using your mouse. In Focus mode, this helps you chain calls together quickly.
Phase 4: Capture Outcomes and Notes
Set the call status. After ending the call, choose a status such as Connected, No Answer, or Left Voicemail. This status is saved to the task and synced with your CRM.
Add notes and next steps. Use the notes field to document key points, objections, or follow‑up actions. Notes help you personalize future outreach and provide context for your teammates.
Review recordings and transcripts. If call recording is enabled, lemlist automatically saves the audio, generates a transcript, and provides an AI summary for quick recap. This is available from your “Calls” section. Reviewing recordings helps you refine your approach and share insights with your team.
Phase 5: Review Call History and Analytics
Access your call log. Click the Calls button in the main navigation to open your call history. You’ll see a list of calls with details like date, lead name, company, call status, and duration.
Filter your calls. Use the filter panel to search by date range, lead, company, call maker, or call status. This helps you focus on specific segments or team members.
Open detailed call insights. Click any call entry to see its detailed window, where you can listen to the recording, read the transcript, and review AI‑generated summaries. Share call recordings with teammates via the Share button if needed.
Use reporting widgets. Navigate to the Reports section to find in‑app calling widgets that visualize your call volume, answer rate, and other metrics. Analyze these insights to optimize your call strategy and improve performance.
Practical Application – Example Workflow
Imagine you’re running a multichannel outreach campaign where a call follows an email touch. You’ve added a call step that triggers two days after the email. When the campaign launches:
Call tasks appear automatically as leads progress to the call step.
You enter Focus mode and start working through tasks. The first call rings; the prospect doesn’t answer.
You click “Mark as Done and Call next” to instantly move to the next lead.
The next call connects. You use the dialer controls to mute when your colleague enters the room and take notes about the prospect’s needs.
After hanging up, you set the status to Connected, add a brief summary, and move on to the next task.
Later, you review the call recording and transcript to refine your pitch.
Troubleshooting & Pitfalls
The phone icon isn’t active. The lead might not have a phone number, or the number is incorrectly formatted. Check the lead’s profile and add a valid phone number; only then does the phone icon turn blue.
Call tasks aren’t appearing. Ensure that your campaign has been launched and that the call step is scheduled after previous steps. Call tasks appear only when a lead reaches the call step. If you pause or reschedule the campaign, tasks may be delayed.
Calls won’t connect. Verify that you have available minutes/credits and that your phone number is connected. If using premium audio, make sure your mobile number is entered in settings and that you answer when lemlist calls you.
Keyboard shortcuts not working. Shortcuts like Shift + ↓ work only when you are inside the dialer or Focus mode. Click inside the dialer window and try again.