In PaintScout, acquisition source tracks where a lead form was submitted (e.g., your website or Google Ads), while lead source tracks how the customer says they heard about you (e.g., referral or word of mouth). Both are saved on every deal.
These two sources answer different questions and together show you what's actually driving leads.
Acquisition Source: Where the lead came from
Acquisition Source tracks where the lead was captured.
This is set on the lead form itself and reflects the channel or location where the form was submitted.
Examples:
Website
Google Ads
Facebook Ads
Landing Page
Email Campaign
Think of Acquisition Source as the technical entry point for the lead.
“Where did this form submission happen?”
Lead Source: How the customer heard about you
Lead Source captures the customer’s answer to how they discovered your business.
This information usually comes from a question on the lead form (for example: “How did you hear about us?”).
Examples:
Referral
Google Search
Word of Mouth
Yelp
Social Media
Think of Lead Source as the customer’s perspective.
“How did you find us?”
Why PaintScout Tracks Both
Tracking both tells you things that either one alone would miss.
For example:
A homeowner hears about you from a friend (Lead Source: Referral)
They later visit your website and submit a form (Acquisition Source: Website)
This tells you:
The website captured the lead
But referrals are driving interest
Without both, it’s easy to misinterpret where your best leads are really coming from. Both details are saved to the deal in PaintScout, giving you clearer insight into your lead funnel.
While these details are saved to your deals in PaintScout, keep in mind that deals in the Production pipeline will not show the Acquisition Source.
Best Practices
Set the Acquisition Source accurately when creating each lead form
Include a Lead Source question on your form whenever possible
Review both metrics together for the most accurate insights