Leads are imported into a lead list from the Add Leads dialog, on the CSV / Excel tab. You upload the file, choose which columns to bring in, and every column that is not a standard lead field becomes a custom field you can use in your emails.
Four ways to add leads
The Add Leads dialog has four tabs:
- Manual Entry adds one lead at a time.
- CSV / Excel imports a file. This is the one described here.
- Bulk Paste takes a block of pasted addresses.
- Google Sheets imports from a sheet URL.
Import a file
- Open your leads and choose Import CSV, or choose Add Leads and then the CSV / Excel tab.
- Upload the file. The importer reads
.csv,.tsv,.xlsx,.xls,.xlsm,.xlsb,.odsand.numbers. - If the data does not start on the first row or column, set the row and column range and choose Apply range.
- Under Select columns to import, tick the columns you want. The table shows each Column, its Sample data, and what it Imports as.
- Check the review screen, then choose Import … rows.
You can close the dialog with Continue in background. The import carries on without it.
How columns are mapped
The importer suggests a mapping for every column, and you can change it. A column can import as one of the six lead fields:
- Full Name
- Company
- Phone
- Position
- Source
One column must be mapped to Email. You cannot continue to the review step until it is.
Custom fields
Any other column can import as a custom field. Pick one under Existing custom fields, or keep the suggested new field, which takes its name from the column header.
The review screen lists both groups before anything is written: Existing custom fields that will be filled, and New custom fields to create. Custom fields show up as new columns in the leads table, where you can reorder or hide them, and they are available as variables when you write a sequence step.
Untick a column to leave it out of the import altogether.
Duplicates and invalid rows
While the import runs you see three counters.
| Counter | What it means |
|---|---|
| Added | New leads created in the list |
| Duplicates | Rows whose email is already in this list, or is repeated in the file |
| Invalid | Rows with no usable email address |
Leads are matched by email address. A duplicate row is skipped. It does not overwrite the lead that is already there, so to change an existing lead, edit it in the leads table.
Before you send to an imported list
An imported list is only as good as its source. Addresses that do not exist bounce, and bounces damage the reputation of the mailbox that sent them. See Bounces: hard, soft, and what to do before you launch, and email verification for how addresses are checked.
Your plan sets how many contacts a workspace can hold. The numbers are on the pricing page.