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Table of contents
  • Why Use CSV for Contact Management?
  • Steps to Import Contacts Through CSV
  • Step 1: Access the Contacts Section
  • Step 2: Prepare Your CSV File
  • Step 3: Upload Your CSV File
  • Step 4: Map Your Columns
  • Step 5: Assign Tags (Optional)
  • Step 6: Complete the Import
  • Best Practices for Managing Your Audience
  • FAQs
    • Help Center›Contacts and Segment›Add your contacts›How to Import Contacts Using CSV

    How to Import Contacts Using CSV

    Last updated January 6, 2025

    Mailmodo allows you to upload contacts through a CSV file, ensuring a seamless way to build and organize your email audience. Whether you're starting fresh or managing an existing contact list, this guide will walk you through the process while highlighting best practices for organizing your audience with tags.

    Why Use CSV for Contact Management?

    CSV imports are a convenient way to:

    1. Add new contacts or update existing ones in bulk.
    2. Organize your audience with additional fields like names, tags, or custom properties.
    3. Ensure better segmentation and personalized targeting for your email campaigns.

    Steps to Import Contacts Through CSV

    Step 1: Access the Contacts Section

    1. Log in to your Mailmodo dashboard.
    2. Navigate to the Contacts tab in the sidebar.
    3. Click on the Add Contacts button.

    Step 2: Prepare Your CSV File

    1. Ensure your file is in CSV format.
    2. Structure your data as follows:
    • Column 1: Email ID (mandatory)
    • Column 2: Tags (optional)
    • Column 3 and beyond: Additional fields, such as first name, last name, phone number, etc.

    Tips for Preparing Your CSV:

    • Tags are optional but highly recommended for audience segmentation. For example, use tags like "Newsletter," "Webinar," or "VIP Customers."
    • Avoid duplicate email addresses. Mailmodo automatically skips duplicates during import.
    • Use headers in the first row to label your columns clearly.

    Step 3: Upload Your CSV File

    1. Click on ‘Browse’ to select your CSV file.
    2. Wait for the file to upload, and review the preview displayed.
    • If there are issues with the file, Mailmodo will highlight errors for correction.

    Things to Note While Uploading Contacts

    1. Subscription Status: New contacts added to the system will have their subscription status set to Subscribed.
    2. Ignored Rows: Rows with no email address or invalid email addresses will be ignored.
    3. Updating Existing Contacts: If a contact already exists in the system, their properties will be updated with the values in the CSV file.
    4. Duplicate Email Addresses: If duplicate email addresses are present, only one contact will be imported, and the latest values from the CSV will update their properties.

    Step 4: Map Your Columns

    1. After the upload, match the columns in your CSV file to Mailmodo’s fields:
    • Email ID → Email Address
    • Tags → Tag Field
    • Name → First Name or Last Name (optional)
    1. Any unmatched columns will not be imported, so ensure critical fields like email addresses are mapped correctly.

    Step 5: Assign Tags (Optional)

    Tags allow you to organize and target your audience effectively.

    1. If you included a "Tags" column in your CSV, ensure it’s mapped correctly during column mapping.
    2. If not, you can assign tags to all imported contacts manually in the Tag Assignment step:
    • Use existing tags or create new ones directly in the dropdown menu.
    • Examples: "Event Registrants," "Product Updates," "Newsletter."

    Step 6: Complete the Import

    1. Review your import settings and mappings.
    2. Click ‘Review Import’ to check for any final errors.
    • Once everything looks good, click ‘Import Contacts’ to finalize.

    The imported list will be available in the     Segments and lists     tab for further usage. 

    Best Practices for Managing Your Audience

    1. Use Tags for Segmentation: Tags help you group and organize contacts for tailored email campaigns. For example:
    • Add a tag for event attendees to follow up after the event.
    • Segment contacts by purchase behavior, interests, or engagement levels.
    1. Keep Your Audience Clean:
    • Regularly remove invalid or duplicate email addresses to improve deliverability.
    • Use suppression lists to exclude unsubscribed or unengaged contacts.
    1. Start Small and Test:
    • Import a small test CSV first to ensure accuracy.
    • Double-check mapping, especially for email addresses and tags.
    1. Update Contacts Periodically: Use Mailmodo’s bulk import feature to keep your data fresh and accurate. You can re-import updated CSV files to add new contacts or modify details for existing ones.

    FAQs

    Q: What happens if I upload a duplicate email address?

    A: Mailmodo automatically ignores duplicates during the import process to prevent redundancy.

    Q: Can I import custom fields beyond email and name?

    A: Yes! Mailmodo supports up to 10 custom fields for advanced segmentation.

    Q: Can I update existing contacts with a new CSV file?

    A: Yes, if the email addresses match existing contacts, their details will be updated.

    Q: Are tags applied retroactively?

    A: No, tags must be assigned during or after the import process.

    That’s It! 🎉

    You’ve successfully imported your contacts into Mailmodo. With your audience organized and tagged, you’re ready to create targeted campaigns that drive engagement and results.

    👉 Need help? Check out our   Help Center.  

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