How to import contacts into HubSpot

Published on Aug 22, 2023, last updated Sep 25, 2024

Devansh Kamdar
Devansh Kamdar
Content Writer
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As marketers and salespeople, we want to ensure our customer data is accurate and up-to-date. Whether migrating from another CRM or updating your database, knowing how to import contacts into HubSpot is essential for sales.

In this article, we’ll guide you through importing contacts into HubSpot. We’ll go through HubSpot’s built-in Import feature and discuss third-party tools like Bardeen that can automate your workflow. Let’s begin!

Three steps to import contacts into HubSpot

Using HubSpot’s contact import feature, updating existing contacts and adding new ones is relatively easy. Let’s go through the steps to use it.

Step 1: Organize your contact data

Before you begin the import process, ensuring that your contact data is organized and formatted correctly is crucial. Here are some guidelines to follow.

  • It should be a .csv, .xlsx, or .xls file
  • It should have only one sheet
  • It should contain fewer than 1,000 columns
  • It should be smaller than 20MB (for Free users)

For more details on import requirements, check this HubSpot page. Here’s an example of a sample spreadsheet. Feel free to use it as a template if you want.

You can also use AI in Google Sheets to remove duplicates and organize your data. If your data needs significant work, this can help you save time. Check this article to learn how to activate ChatGPT in Google Sheets.

Step 2: Add new properties (optional)

By default, HubSpot has around 150 properties, like First Name, Last Name, Email, Mobile Number, and more. However, you can also add new ones if you want. Here are the steps to add a new property in HubSpot.

Step 1: Log in to HubSpot and click the Settings button at the top-right corner of the screen.

Step 2: Under Data Management, click Properties. On the main page, click Create property.

Step 3: Specify the property details, like type, group, label, and description. In the following pages, also specify field type and property rules. Once done, click Create.

If you don’t know whether you need to add a new property, don’t worry. When you import your contacts to HubSpot, it’ll give you the option to create a new property if necessary. Now, let’s see how to use the Import feature.

Step 3: Upload the file

Here are the steps to upload your file and import contacts into HubSpot.

Step 1: Click Contacts in the top-left corner of the screen and Contacts in the drop-down menu.

Step 2: Click Import.

Step 3: Under Import, click Start an import.

Step 4: Click Import file from computer.

Step 5: Click One file.

Step 6: Click One object.

Step 7: Click Contacts.

Step 8: Select the contacts file and upload it. In the drop-down menu below it, based on your use case, select Create and update Contacts, Create new Contacts only, or Update existing Contacts only.

That’s it! HubSpot will provide a preview of how your data will be imported. Take a moment to review this data and ensure all columns match the associated HubSpot property (create new ones if necessary). To proceed, click Next.

You also need to specify an import name. Once the process is complete, review the data so there aren’t any issues down the line.

Import contacts into HubSpot using Bardeen

Did you know there’s an easy and intuitive way to import contacts into HubSpot? Bardeen is an AI-powered workflow automation extension for Chrome integrated with HubSpot and over fifty other apps.

Using the prebuilt automations in Bardeen, you can instantly import contacts into HubSpot from Salesforce, Google Sheets, LinkedIn, or Gmail. Let’s look at automations to do that.

As mentioned above, this automation will save a Salesforce contact as a new HubSpot contact with just a few clicks. It could be helpful if you’re migrating from Salesforce to HubSpot and want to avoid manual data entry.

Similar to the Salesforce automation, this automation will create a HubSpot contact from a LinkedIn profile. It’ll include the name, email address, phone number, and other details of the LinkedIn profile in the HubSpot contact.

To import your Gmail contacts into HubSpot, use this OpenAI-powered automation. Once you open an email and run the automation, it’ll identify the contact’s first and last name using OpenAI and create a new HubSpot contact.

The social media profiles of your HubSpot contacts can help you gain a deeper understanding of them. Instead of searching for them manually, this automation uses Clearbit to present them to you in just a few clicks.

Since Bardeen has a web scraper, you can use it to scrape email addresses from social media profiles and websites. Additionally, you can edit the automation and add an extra action to save the email addresses as HubSpot contacts.

We hope you liked these automations! Check out these articles for more HubSpot automations and integrations. Moreover, feel free to use Magic Box to create custom automations and share them with the community.

Do you want to explore more third-party options? We recommend you try Zapier, Make, or Tray.io. These workflow automation platforms also have an integration with HubSpot and can optimize your workflow.

Endnotes

In conclusion, importing contacts into HubSpot is straightforward but should be done carefully. By following the above steps, you can ensure that your customer data is accurately transferred into the CRM, allowing you to manage your interactions and relationships effectively.

An error-free import is the first and essential step for successful future sales, marketing, and customer service efforts. To go further, read how you can leverage AI to generate outreach emails and boost engagement!

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