Understanding Lead Status – Default Options

1. What Is Lead Status?

Lead Status is a contact-level property in HubSpot that tracks real-time progress or engagement level of a lead. It’s narrower than Lifecycle Stage (which might say “Lead” or “Opportunity” at a big-picture level); Lead Status can say “New,” “Open deal,” etc. to show exactly where they stand right now. HubSpot’s default statuses serve the typical sales workflow: from a new lead that just came in, to one that’s currently being worked on, to one that you’ve decided isn’t a fit.

2. Default Lead Statuses in HubSpot

While the exact naming can vary slightly by HubSpot edition, you’ll commonly see these default Lead Status options out of the box:

1. New
   • A fresh, unworked lead.
   • Typically assigned automatically when a contact is newly created (e.g., via form submission) and hasn’t been touched by a sales or consultant outreach yet.
   • The sales or business development person knows to take the first step with this contact.
2. Open
   • A lead recognized as valid and worthwhile, but not actively pursued yet. Or you’ve reached out once but haven’t really progressed.
   • “Open” usually indicates you intend to engage them but it’s not in a heavy activity phase (no formal conversation started or no multi-step plan in place yet).
3. In Progress
   • You’re actively working the lead—maybe emailing them or scheduling calls.
   • This status implies you’ve initiated real contact. You might be exchanging details about a potential project or scope.
4. Open Deal
   • You or your team has created a deal for this lead, meaning you see a tangible sales opportunity.
   • Typically implies the conversation has advanced enough that there’s a proposed solution or project on the table.
5. Unqualified
   • You’ve concluded the lead isn’t a fit or no longer worth pursuing. Reasons vary: wrong budget, timing, or they’re just not interested.
   • Usually, you’d mark them “Unqualified” so you don’t keep reaching out or accidentally include them in further nurturing communications.

Note: Some HubSpot portals might have slight variations like “Attempting to Contact” or “Bad Timing,” but the main structure typically includes New, Open, In Progress, Open Deal, and Unqualified as the core statuses.

3. How the Default Lead Statuses Are Typically Used

1. New
   • The moment a new contact is created (e.g., from a form or import) and assigned to a sales rep or consultant, it’s marked “New.”
   • The “New” bucket is a queue for initial outreach.
2. Open
   • If the lead has been acknowledged but not actively pursued, or you’ve left them a voicemail without further steps, you might mark it “Open.”
   • Often used as a short-term holding status before deciding to either push further or move on.
3. In Progress
   • You’re currently engaged—scheduling a call, drafting a proposal, or actively emailing them.
   • This status helps you see who needs follow-up soon because you’re mid-discussion.
4. Open Deal
   • Once you create a deal record, the system can automatically set Lead Status to “Open Deal” if you want.
   • Tells you (and your team) that this lead has progressed into a real revenue opportunity.
5. Unqualified
   • If a conversation stalls and the lead says, “We have no budget,” or “We chose another vendor,” or “We’re just not interested,” you mark them “Unqualified.”
   • This ensures they don’t reappear in your pipeline of active leads. If they later re-engage or circumstances change, you can always set a new status.

4. Where to See and Update Lead Status

• Contact Record: Under “View All Properties” or in the right/left sidebar, you’ll find Lead Status. Set it to “New,” “In Progress,” etc., based on what’s happening.
• Contacts Table: Show “Lead Status” as a column to quickly scan your leads. You can bulk-update “Lead Status” for multiple contacts if you prefer.
• Forms or Workflows: HubSpot can automatically set Lead Status when a contact fills out a certain form, or you can build a workflow (if you have a plan that supports it) to set it after certain actions.

5. Using Lead Status Alongside Lifecycle Stage

Lifecycle Stage: A broad classification (Lead, MQL, SQL, Customer).

Lead Status: A narrower, short-term real-time status (New, Open, In Progress, etc.).

Example:

• Lifecycle Stage = Lead
• Lead Status = In Progress (meaning you’re actively emailing them).
• Once you create a deal, you might change Lifecycle Stage to Opportunity and Lead Status to “Open Deal.”