How to import contacts from a file?

If you already have a list of contacts in a file on your computer, you can upload that file into the system and add the contacts to your new contact list. To start, you will need to export your contact list from your other mailing program. You should export your contact list into a CSV (comma separated value) file. A CSV file will contain a list of your contacts details in a line-by-line format, such as: 

user1@site.com,MALE,Y,20030101
user2@site.com,FEMALE,N,20031014
user3@site.com,MALE,N,20020706 

Move your mouse over the "Lists" tab and click the "Import Contacts" option in the left, as shown below: 


This will start the "Import Contacts" wizard. Choose the contact list you want to import contacts to and click the "Next >>" button. 


The example import file above includes three records, and each record is separated with a new line. Each record contains four fields, and each field is separated with a comma. The CSV file will typically have a .CSV or .TXT file extension. Start by clicking on the "Browse..." button in the form to select your CSV file from your hard drive: 


To import contacts from a file, click the "Browse..." button to choose the file.


If your import file contains a line of headers like this: 

EMAIL,SEX,EMPLOYED,DATE
user1@site.com,MALE,Y,20030101
user2@site.com,FEMALE,N,20031014
user3@site.com,MALE,N,20020706
... 

... make sure you tick the "Yes, this file contains headers" checkbox. Click the "Next >>" button to proceed to the next step. 

You will now be asked to map the fields from the imported file to the fields in the system. Simply click the dropdown box next to each field that was found in the file and match it up to the field in the system. Here's an example for an import file that included "Sex" and "Age" custom fields: 


Click the dropdown next to each imported field to map it to the appropriate field in the system.

Click the "Next >>" button when you are done. Finally, click the "Start Import" button. Your contacts will be imported one by one and the popup window that appears will show you how many contacts have been imported and how many remain. You will see a final report when all contacts have been imported: 


The final screen will tell you how many contacts were imported. It will also tell you if your contact file contained bad data.