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. Let's start with some basic data hygiene:

Why is data hygiene important?

• Data accuracy: Ensures your HubSpot reports and insights are reliable.
• Contact segmentation: Allows for effective targeting in your marketing campaigns.
• Lead nurturing: Delivers personalized experiences to your prospects.

Steps for Cleaning Spreadsheet Data

1. Remove duplicates:
   1. Sort your data by relevant columns (email address, company name)
   2. Use spreadsheet functions or conditional formatting to highlight duplicates
   3. Delete unnecessary rows
2. Standardize formatting:
   1. Ensure consistent capitalization (e.g., 'Company Name' not 'company name' or 'COMPANY NAME')
   2. Correct date and number formats (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY)
   3. Remove extra spaces or special characters
3. Validate data:
   1. Check for invalid email addresses (e.g., missing @ symbol, incorrect domain)
   2. Use online tools or formulas to verify phone numbers
   3. Correct any misspellings or typos
4. Enrich data (optional):
   1. Fill in missing information where possible (e.g., company websites, industry)
   2. Use data enrichment tools or services to enhance your records
   3. Validate email addresses (optional)
   4. Use an email validation system to maintain good email address hygiene and deliverability
5. Map your data to HubSpot properties:
   1. Make sure your spreadsheet column headers match the corresponding HubSpot property names. You can also match the column headers when you are doing your import, but we find it's easier to match them in the spreadsheet before you begin to upload.
   2. If your spreadsheet includes fields that are not already in HubSpot, you will need to create custom properties for those fields.

Now that you've prepared your data, you've done the hard part! The next step is to import your spreadsheet. The most up-to-date instructions on how to import are here.

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.