How to Import Contacts from CSV to Contact List

Learn how to bulk import contacts from a CSV file into your contact lists. This saves time when adding many contacts at once and helps you build large lists efficiently.

Before You Begin

• You must be logged in to your account at https://app.joinzipper.com
• You need permission to manage contact lists (typically organization owners and admins have this permission)
• A contact list created (or create one during import)
• A CSV file prepared with contact data

Steps

Step 1: Navigate to Contact List

1. Log in to your account at https://app.joinzipper.com/auth/login
2. From the dashboard, go to Contact Lists (or CRM → Contact Lists)
3. Find the contact list you want to import to:
   • Select an existing list
   • Or create a new list first

What happens next: You'll see the contact list management page.

Step 2: Open Import CSV

1. On the contact list page, look for Import CSV button
2. Or click Add contacts → Import CSV
3. The import interface will open

What happens next: You'll see the CSV import interface.

Step 3: Download Template (Optional)

1. If available, click Download template to see the required format
2. Review the template to understand:
   • Required columns (email for email lists, phone for SMS lists)
   • Optional columns (name, etc.)
   • Data format expectations
3. Use the template as a guide when preparing your CSV file

Note: Using the template ensures your CSV matches the expected format.

Step 4: Prepare Your CSV File

1. Open your CSV file in a spreadsheet application (Excel, Google Sheets, etc.)
2. Ensure your CSV includes:
   • Email column (required for email lists)
   • Phone column (required for SMS lists)
   • Name column (optional but recommended)
   • Other contact fields as needed
3. Verify data quality:
   • Email addresses are valid and properly formatted (for email lists)
   • Phone numbers are valid and properly formatted (for SMS lists)
   • No duplicate contacts
   • Required fields are filled in
   • Data matches expected formats
4. Save your CSV file

Important: Make sure email addresses (for email lists) or phone numbers (for SMS lists) are valid and properly formatted.

Step 5: Upload CSV File

1. In the import interface, click Upload CSV or Choose file
2. Select your CSV file from your computer
3. The file will be uploaded and processed
4. You'll see a preview of the data

What happens next: The system will analyze your CSV file and show you what will be imported.

Step 6: Review and Map Columns

1. Review the column mapping:

   • System will attempt to auto-map columns based on headers
   • Verify that columns are mapped correctly
   • Adjust mappings if needed:
     • Email → Email (for email lists)
     • Phone → Phone (for SMS lists)
     • Name → Name
     • etc.

2. Check the data preview:

   • Review sample rows to ensure data looks correct
   • Verify email addresses or phone numbers are valid
   • Check that required fields are present

Note: Column mapping ensures your CSV data is imported into the correct fields.

Step 7: Validate the Data

1. Click Validate or similar button to check for errors
2. Review validation results:
   • Valid rows: Rows that will be imported successfully
   • Invalid rows: Rows with errors that need to be fixed
   • Error messages: Specific issues to address
3. Fix any errors:
   • Update invalid email addresses or phone numbers
   • Fill in missing required fields
   • Correct data format issues
4. Re-upload the corrected CSV if needed

Important: Fix all validation errors before importing to ensure successful import.

Step 8: Start Import

1. Review the import summary:
   • Number of contacts to be imported
   • Number of valid rows
   • Any warnings or notes
2. Click Import (or Start import)
   • The button will show a loading state while importing
   • Import progress will be displayed
3. Wait for import to complete

What happens next: The import will process and:

• Add contacts to your contact list
• Show import results and any errors
• Provide a summary of successful imports
• Contacts are available for campaigns

Step 9: Monitor Import Progress

1. Watch the import progress indicator
2. Review import results:
   • Successfully imported: Number of contacts added
   • Failed imports: Rows that couldn't be imported
   • Error details: Specific reasons for failures
3. Address any import errors if needed

Note: Large imports may take some time. Be patient and let the process complete.

Tips

• Always validate data before importing to catch errors early
• Use the template to ensure proper formatting
• Verify email addresses (for email lists) or phone numbers (for SMS lists) are valid
• Test with a small CSV file first before importing large datasets
• Keep a backup of your original CSV file
• Review import results to ensure all contacts were added correctly

Troubleshooting

Problem: I don't see the Import CSV option Solution: Check that:

• You're viewing a contact list (not just the lists page)
• You have permission to manage contact lists
• Import feature is available

Solution: Make sure you've opened a contact list. Contact your organization owner if you need access.

Problem: CSV format is incorrect Solution: Check that:

• CSV file is properly formatted (comma-separated values)
• Headers match expected column names
• Data is in the correct format
• Use the template to ensure proper formatting

Solution: Download the template and match your CSV format to it.

Problem: Import fails with "Email is invalid" or "Phone is invalid" errors Solution: Check that:

• Email addresses are properly formatted (contain @ symbol, valid domain) for email lists
• Phone numbers are properly formatted for SMS lists
• No duplicate email addresses or phone numbers in the CSV
• Email addresses or phone numbers don't contain extra spaces or characters

Solution: Clean your CSV file, remove invalid emails/phones, and ensure proper formatting.

Problem: Required fields are missing Solution: Make sure your CSV includes:

• Email column (required for email lists)
• Phone column (required for SMS lists)
• All required fields are filled in for each row

Solution: Add missing columns or fill in required fields before importing.

Problem: Import is slow or timing out Solution: For large imports:

• Break the CSV into smaller batches
• Import in chunks (e.g., 100 contacts at a time)
• Ensure your internet connection is stable
• Contact support for assistance with very large imports

Problem: Some contacts weren't imported Solution: Check import results for:

• Error messages explaining why rows failed
• Invalid data that needs to be fixed
• Duplicate emails/phones that were skipped

Solution: Fix errors in your CSV and re-import the failed rows.