I’m ready to import my first contact list into HubSpot, where do I start?

The process of importing contacts lists into HubSpot is outlined in the following steps to ensure a clean and error-free transition. Initially, it’s crucial to clean and organize your existing contacts lists, as exports from different systems can be messy. To guarantee a successful import, create a master template with all fields filled in as accurately as possible.

A clean import can be achieved by following these steps:

• Clean and Populate Date: Ensure that your data is clean and properly populated. Common errors to check for include correct email addresses, company website URLs, and proper formatting of company names.
• Email Validation: Run your lists through an email validator as a best practice to maintain good email deliverability.
• Required Column Headers: Make sure your spreadsheet has the necessary column headers for your contact information. Here are some examples of required column headers.

Once you have a clean list, proceed with the import into HubSpot:

• Company Information First: Start by making a duplicate of your master list and remove contact information, leaving only company details. Import this list into HubSpot, including company website, address, phone numbers, etc.
• Contact Information Second: Import the master list of all contacts with email addresses, company details, addresses, phone numbers, etc. into HubSpot. This ensures that contacts with email addresses matching the company domain or website address will merge with the corresponding company record.

HubSpot checks for errors during the import process to maintain data accuracy. Examples of errors include improperly formatted email addresses, which will prevent the import of contacts. If an email address is shared among multiple contacts, only one contact can be associated with it, so duplicates should be removed.

For more complex imports involving objects and activities, additional info can be here. By following these steps and maintaining data cleanliness, your contact lists can be successfully imported into HubSpot, minimizing errors and headaches, and ensuring the integrity of your database.