4 min read

CSV formatting for lead imports

Prepare a CSV that imports cleanly.

Overview

A clean CSV makes mapping, variables, and troubleshooting much easier.

Recommended workflow

1

Use one header row.

2

Include email as a required column.

3

Use separate columns for firstName, lastName, companyName, and website.

4

Remove merged cells or spreadsheet-only formatting.

5

Export as UTF-8 CSV if available.

Tips that make this work better

Tip

Keep headers short and stable.

Tip

Avoid commas inside unquoted values.

Tip

Use one row per lead.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Uploading XLSX when the importer expects CSV.
  • Using duplicate column names.

Done well, this should leave you with

A cleaner Outlio setup, fewer avoidable campaign issues, and a more reliable path from setup to replies.

Related articles

Was this article helpful?

Need more help? Contact Support