How do I move a lead to Hot Lead and why would I do this?

In the pipeline Kanban view, click and hold the opportunity card, then drag it left to the Hot Lead column. Drop it there. This is the one column where dragging is the correct move — no automation fires, no booking is created, so there is nothing to break. You're just reorganizing your visual workspace.

Move a lead to Hot Lead when they've had a real conversation with you, expressed genuine interest, and said something like "I'm going to call back to schedule" or "I need to check my partner's schedule first." They're not a cold new inquiry anymore — they've shown intent. Flagging them as Hot Lead reminds you to follow up personally instead of relying on the automated sequence alone.

Right after moving the card, open the contact record and add a note. Write what was discussed, why they're hot, and when to follow up. Something like: "Spoke with Michael, very interested in FUE, wants to discuss with wife first. Call back Thursday." Now anyone on the team knows exactly where this lead stands without reading the whole conversation thread.

When your Hot Lead calls back and says they're ready to book, go to their contact record, open the Appointments tab, and create the booking there. The card will automatically move to Consult Booked when the appointment is saved. Do not drag it — even from Hot Lead to Consult Booked. The calendar is always the correct move for anything beyond Hot Lead.