Importing Recipient Lists via CSV

Importing Recipient Lists via CSV

Postigo allows you to quickly upload recipient lists for your campaigns using CSV (Comma Separated Values) files. This is the most convenient and efficient way to add a large number of contacts to the system.

CSV Format for Import

For a successful import, your CSV file must meet certain requirements. Each row in the file represents one recipient, and the values are separated by commas. The first row of the file should contain column headers that define what data is contained in each column.

Only the column with email addresses is required. The remaining columns (first name, last name, position, company, etc.) are optional and can be used to personalize your email campaigns.

Example of a correct CSV file:

email,name,company,position
[email protected],John Doe,Acme Corp,Sales Manager
[email protected],Jane Smith,Beta Inc,Marketing Director
[email protected],Peter Jones,Gamma Ltd,CEO

Important points:

• Encoding: It is recommended to use UTF-8 encoding for the correct display of all characters.
• Separator: A comma (,) is used as a separator. If your data contains commas, enclose them in double quotes ("). For example: "123 Main St, Anytown, USA".
• Headers: Make sure that the column headers in the first row match the fields you want to fill in Postigo. You can use any headers that are convenient for you; Postigo will allow you to match them with the fields in the system.
• Special characters: Avoid using special characters, such as tab characters, line breaks, and control characters, in the data.

Duplicate Handling

Postigo automatically detects and handles duplicate email addresses during import. You can choose one of the following options:

• Skip duplicates: Duplicate email addresses will be ignored, and only the unique email address will be added to the list.
• Update data: If the email address already exists in the list, the information about it will be updated with data from the CSV file. This is useful if you want to make changes to existing contacts.
• Add as new: Duplicate email addresses will be added to the list as new contacts. This option should be used with caution, as it can lead to an undesirable increase in the size of the list and delivery problems.

The choice of duplicate handling strategy depends on your specific situation and goals.

Format Validation

Postigo automatically checks the format of email addresses during import. Addresses that do not conform to the standard format (for example, a missing @ symbol or spaces) will be rejected. You will receive an error report indicating the incorrect email addresses.

It is recommended to pre-check your CSV file for errors using online email address validation tools. This will help avoid problems during import and ensure higher deliverability of your email campaigns. For example, you can use services like Mailgun Email Validation API or ZeroBounce.

File Size Limitations

Postigo has limitations on the maximum size of the CSV file that can be uploaded. Currently, the maximum file size is 10 MB. If your file exceeds this size, split it into several smaller files and upload them one at a time.

The number of rows (contacts) in the file also has a limit. It is recommended not to exceed 50,000 contacts in one file. For larger lists, it is better to use multiple files.

What to do if the import fails with an error

If an error occurs when importing a CSV file, check the following:

1. File format: Make sure that the file is in CSV format and meets the requirements described above.
2. Encoding: Check that the file is saved in UTF-8 encoding.
3. Separator: Make sure that a comma (,) is used as a separator.
4. Errors in data: Check the data for errors, such as incorrect email addresses, special characters, etc.
5. File size: Make sure that the file size does not exceed 10 MB.
6. Number of rows: Make sure that the number of rows in the file does not exceed 50,000.
7. Access rights: Make sure you have the rights to read the file.

If the problem persists after checking all these points, contact Postigo support, providing a detailed description of the error and the problematic CSV file (if possible). Our team will help you resolve the issue and successfully import your recipient list.

To improve deliverability and avoid being marked as spam, it is recommended to use your own SMTP servers and warm them up before sending large mailings. You can learn more about this in the articles Why it is important to use your own SMTP servers and Warming up an SMTP server.

Also, do not forget about the importance of spam protection and proper configuration of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. You can read more about this in the article SPF, DKIM, DMARC: Protecting your sender reputation.