Prepare the file
Export from your existing system as CSV with UTF-8 encoding. Keep one row per contact and one header row. Split full names into first and last name columns where possible, and store phone numbers in E.164 format (+15551234567) so SMS and dialling work immediately.
Map the fields
The importer suggests a mapping for each column. Anything it cannot match can be pointed at a custom field — create those fields first, because a field created after the import will not be populated retroactively.
Control duplicates
Choose the deduplication key before you run the import. Email is the safest default for B2B lists; phone is usually better for local service businesses where several people share a company email.
- Update existing — merges new values into the matching record.
- Skip existing — leaves matched records untouched.
- Create anyway — only use for genuinely separate contacts.
If something goes wrong
Because every import is tagged, a bad batch can be isolated with a smart list filtered on that tag and bulk-deleted or bulk-corrected. This is why tagging each batch matters — without it, undoing an import means picking records apart by hand.