Mailchimp How to Import Contacts

Importing contacts into Mailchimp can be seen as both straightforward and daunting at the same time.

The platform offers various methods for bringing in contacts, from connecting with other services to importing from a file.

However, the key lies in understanding the nuances of each method and ensuring that the data is formatted correctly.

By following the right steps, we can effectively expand our audience and leverage Mailchimp’s capabilities to their fullest potential.

Key Takeaways

• Ensure that your Mailchimp plan allows for the desired number of contacts and understand the daily send limit.
• Integrate another service with Mailchimp through the Audience dashboard and select the ‘Import from another service’ option.
• Create a blank spreadsheet that adheres to the format guidelines for different types of data and save it as a CSV file for easy import.
• Update existing contacts by ensuring that column names in the import file match audience fields and assign tags for easy segmentation and targeted messaging.

Preparing Your Contact List

To prepare your contact list for importing into Mailchimp, start by ensuring that your plan allows for the desired number of contacts and understanding the daily send limit. It’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your plan’s limitations to avoid any hiccups during the import process.

When importing from another service, integrate it with Mailchimp through the Audience dashboard and select the ‘Import from another service’ option. This seamless integration ensures that your contacts seamlessly transition into Mailchimp.

As you prepare your contact list, it’s important to create a blank spreadsheet that adheres to the format guidelines for different types of data. This step ensures that your data is organized and ready for import. Once the spreadsheet is ready, save the file as a CSV format to facilitate the import process.

This meticulous preparation sets the stage for a smooth and successful import into Mailchimp, allowing you to effectively manage your audience, email, phone, SMS, tags, and fields. By paying attention to these details, you can streamline the import process and optimize your Mailchimp experience.

Importing Contacts From Another Service

When importing contacts from another service into Mailchimp, it’s essential to ensure seamless integration for a smooth transition of your contact list. Mailchimp provides a straightforward process for importing subscribed contacts from various platforms such as Zapier, Salesforce, WooCommerce, QuickBooks Online, Squarespace Commerce, and Shopify.

To begin, navigate to the Audience dashboard, click on ‘Import contacts,’ and select ‘Import from another service.’ Use the import tool to upload your contact list and follow the format guidelines by preparing a CSV file with columns for Email Address, First Name, Last Name, and other relevant information.

Additionally, you can choose or create tags to categorize and organize the imported contacts. When importing, it’s crucial to update existing contacts by ensuring that column names in the import file match audience fields and that blank fields overwrite existing contact data. This process allows for a seamless transition of contacts to Mailchimp while maintaining the integrity of your contact list.

Lastly, don’t forget to assign tags to the imported contacts for easy segmentation and targeted messaging.

Importing New Contacts From a File

Importing new contacts from a file is a simple process that allows us to expand our audience and engage with a broader network of subscribers. Here’s how to do it effectively:

1. File Format: Ensure your import file is in CSV format and includes essential fields such as email address, first name, and last name. This will help Mailchimp recognize and organize the data correctly.
2. Utilize Import Tool: Use Mailchimp’s import tool to seamlessly add new contacts to your audience. This tool simplifies the process and ensures that the imported data aligns with the field types in your audience.
3. Update Existing Contacts: If you’re importing contacts that already exist in your audience, utilize the import tool to update their information. It’s important to ensure that the column names in your import file match the audience fields in Mailchimp for accurate updating.
4. Consider Plan Limitations: Before initiating the import process, it’s crucial to understand any limitations or conditions associated with your Mailchimp plan. This knowledge will help you navigate the import process effectively and make the most out of your available features.

Copying and Pasting Contacts

Expanding on our methods for importing new contacts, another efficient approach is copying and pasting contacts from a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Before pasting, it’s crucial to ensure that the contact information is correctly formatted in the spreadsheet. Save the file as a CSV format, and then import it into Mailchimp using the import tool. This method allows for updating multiple contacts at once by pasting the updated information directly into Mailchimp.

When using this method, it’s important to verify that the column names in your import file match the audience fields in Mailchimp. This ensures that the information is accurately mapped to the right fields. After pasting the contacts, choose the appropriate fields for the email addresses and click to complete the import process.

Copying and pasting contacts is a quick and convenient way to add new contacts or update existing ones in Mailchimp. By adhering to the correct formatting and field mapping, you can efficiently manage your contacts and keep your audience information up to date.

Updating Existing Contacts

To ensure that existing contacts are updated efficiently, carefully review the column names in the import file to match the audience fields in Mailchimp. When updating existing contacts using Mailchimp’s import tool, it’s crucial to follow these essential steps:

1. Verify Column Names: Prior to importing the CSV file, ensure that the column names in the file match the audience fields in Mailchimp. This matching process allows Mailchimp to correctly update the existing contact information.
2. Overwrite Blank Fields: Keep in mind that when importing a file to update existing contacts, blank fields in the import file will overwrite the existing contact data in Mailchimp. Therefore, double-check the import file to avoid unintentional data loss or overwriting of critical information.
3. Limitation to Subscribed and Non-Subscribed Contacts: It’s important to note that the method of updating contacts through the import tool only applies to subscribed or non-subscribed contacts. Contacts with different statuses, such as unsubscribed or cleaned, won’t be updated using this method.
4. Email Marketing Status: While updating existing contacts, be aware that the email marketing status of the contacts won’t be affected by the import process. This means that their subscription status will remain unchanged after the update.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Import a List of Contacts?

Sure,

To import a list of contacts, we need to ensure that our plan supports the number of contacts. We should also have a blank spreadsheet ready.

We can also import contacts from other services like Zapier or Salesforce.

When importing from a file, we need to prepare the spreadsheet with the required columns and format. We should save it in CSV format. Then, in Mailchimp, we choose the audience, contact status, and import settings.

For updating existing contacts, we need to match the column names with audience fields before using the import tool.

Why Is Mailchimp Not Importing Contacts?

We’ve encountered issues with Mailchimp not importing contacts due to various factors. Incomplete or incorrect file formats, missing mandatory fields, and unsubscribed or cleaned statuses can hinder the process.

Data format discrepancies, technical glitches, and system delays also contribute to this problem. Ensuring the correct file format, complete information, and resolving any technical issues can help address these challenges and improve the success of importing contacts into Mailchimp.

How Do I Add Individual Contacts to Mailchimp?

So, when we want to add individual contacts to Mailchimp, we can do it manually by entering their information directly into the platform.

Simply go to the ‘Audience’ tab, select ‘All contacts,’ and then click ‘Add Contacts’ to input the details.

This way, we can ensure that specific individuals are included in our Mailchimp audience, allowing for more personalized and targeted communication.

How Can We Import Contacts Into Mailchimp?

Sure, to import contacts into Mailchimp, we can follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Audience dashboard.
2. Select ‘Import Contacts’.
3. Choose the file to upload.
4. Map the columns to match our audience fields.
5. Review and confirm the import, ensuring all contacts are added accurately.

Conclusion

So there you have it! Importing contacts into Mailchimp is a breeze. It’s like waving a magic wand and watching your contact list grow before your eyes.

With just a few simple steps, you can bring all your contacts into one place and start reaching out to them in no time.

It’s almost too easy!

Happy importing!