Learn how to import hundreds or thousands of contacts at once into Pipeline Funnels from any source - your phone, Facebook friends, email contacts, or spreadsheets. This one-time setup saves you hours of manual entry and instantly builds your contact database.

Process takes 5-10 minutes once your contacts are in a spreadsheet.

🎥 Video Walkthrough (4 minutes)

Watch this step-by-step demo of the actual import process:

This shows the final import step. Keep reading to learn how to get your contacts into spreadsheet format first.

Why Bulk Import Matters for Your Business

Instead of adding contacts one by one (which takes forever), bulk importing lets you:

• Build your database instantly - Add your entire phone contacts, Facebook friends, or email lists in minutes

• Get organized from day one - Tag and categorize large groups automatically during import

• Start follow-up sequences immediately - Your imported contacts can go straight into pipelines and workflows

• Leverage existing relationships - Turn your current network into business opportunities

Real example: Import your 500 phone contacts in 5 minutes, tag them as "personal network," and start your business with a ready-made database instead of starting from zero.

The Two-Step Process

Step 1: Get your contacts into a CSV spreadsheet (varies by source, examples below)
Step 2: Import the spreadsheet into Pipeline Funnels (same process for everyone)

Let's cover Step 2 first (the actual import), then show you how to do Step 1 for different contact sources.

Step 2: Import Your Spreadsheet Into Pipeline Funnels

Once you have a CSV file with your contacts, here's how to get them into Pipeline Funnels:

Required Spreadsheet Columns

Your CSV file should have these columns (minimum):

• First Name / Last Name (in 2 separate columns if you can)

• Full Name (alternative, if their name is only in one column)

• Email (use a second column if you have additional emails)

• Phone Number (use a second column if you have additional phone numbers)

Optional columns you can also include if you want:

• Birthday

• Street Address

• State/Province

• Zip/Postal Code

• Country

• Company

• Any custom tags (create one column called "Tags" and separate them with commas)

The Import Process (5 minutes)

Step 1: Export your spreadsheet as a CSV file

• In Google Sheets: File → Download → Comma-separated values (.csv)

• In Excel: File → Save As → CSV (Comma delimited)

• In Numbers (Mac): File → Export To → CSV

Step 2: Go to Pipeline Funnels Contacts page

• Click "Contacts" in your left menu

• Click the "Import Contacts" button at the top

• Click "Next"

Step 3: Upload your CSV file

• Click "Select your file"

• Choose the CSV you just created

• Pipeline Funnels will try to match your columns to the right fields

Step 4: Review the field matching (aka "Field Mapping")

• First Name → First Name ✓

• Email → Email ✓

• Phone → Phone ✓

• Adjust any mismatched fields if needed. Click the dropdown and select the right field.

• If you want to skip any columns, click the box at the bottom that says, "Don't import data in unmapped columns."

• Click "Next"

Step 5: Configure import settings (IMPORTANT)

• Smart List: Create a group for these contacts (example: "Phone Contacts" or "Facebook Friends")

• NOTE: The Smart List only applies to NEW contacts you're adding to your Pipeline Funnels. If they're already in your account for some reason, they won't be added to the Smart List. For this reason, we usually use tags instead.

• Workflow: Skip this for now unless you have specific follow-up sequences ready

• Tags: Add a tag to identify this group (example: "personal network" or "facebook import")

Step 6: Preview your data and start the import

• Scroll down to see a preview of how your contacts will look

• Once you're happy with everything, scroll down and click "Start Bulk Import"

• Be patient. It may take a couple minutes for your contacts to get added, especially if it's a big list.

That's it! Your contacts are now in Pipeline Funnels, tagged and organized exactly how you want them. Now, let's go back to Step 1 and talk about how/where to get those lists of contacts you'll need...

Step 1: Getting Contacts Into Spreadsheet Format

Here's how to get contacts from different sources into CSV format. Each method has its own detailed guide:

From Your Phone Contacts

Your phone contains your warmest contacts - friends, family, and business connections who already know and trust you. These are often your best prospects because the relationship already exists.

Quick preview: iPhone users export through iCloud.com, Android users through Google Contacts. Both require converting to CSV format, and we'll show you exactly which free tools to use.

📱 Complete iPhone Export Guide
📱 Complete Android Export Guide

From Facebook Friends

Your Facebook friends represent a huge untapped opportunity - these are people who already engage with your content and trust your recommendations. However, there are important legal and ethical considerations you need to understand first.

Quick preview: Facebook allows you to download your own data (including friends list), but you must follow strict guidelines about how to use this information. We'll show you the right way to do this without violating terms of service.

👥 Facebook Contacts: Complete Guide + Ethics → (Coming soon)

From Gmail/Google Contacts

If you use Gmail for personal or business, you likely have hundreds of contacts stored there. Google makes it relatively easy to export these contacts, and they're often higher quality since they include people you've actually emailed with.

Quick preview: Direct export from contacts.google.com in CSV format. Takes about 2 minutes and gives you clean, organized contact data ready for import.

📧 Gmail Contacts Export Guide → (Coming soon)

From Outlook/Microsoft Contacts

Whether you use Outlook for work or personal email, your contact database is probably more extensive than you realize. Microsoft provides several export options depending on which version you're using.

Quick preview: Different processes for Outlook.com vs. desktop Outlook, but both result in clean CSV exports. We'll cover both methods plus how to handle duplicate contacts.

💼 Outlook Contacts Export Guide → (Coming soon)

From Other Email Programs

Many people use Apple Mail, Thunderbird, or other email programs that also store contacts. While the process varies by program, the end result is the same - getting your contacts into a CSV file Pipeline Funnels can import.

Quick preview: Most programs export to vCard format first, then convert to CSV using free online tools. We'll show you the safest conversion tools to use.

📬 Other Email Programs Guide → (Coming soon)

Important Ethics and Legal Guidelines

⚠️ This is critical - only import contacts you have permission to contact!

Understanding the legal and ethical guidelines for contact importing isn't just about staying compliant - it's about building genuine relationships that lead to long-term business success.

Quick preview: Learn the difference between "warm" and "cold" contacts, understand CAN-SPAM laws, discover the right way to reconnect with old contacts, and get scripts for re-engaging your network without being pushy.

⚖️ Complete Ethics & Legal Guide (Covers CAN-SPAM compliance, relationship-based marketing, and reconnection scripts)

Quick Guidelines Summary:

• ✅ Usually OK: Your phone contacts, email contacts you've communicated with, past customers

• ⚠️ Use Caution: Social media friends (only message people you actually know well)

• ❌ Never OK: Purchased lists, scraped contacts, people you've never interacted with

Best practices:

• Start with your warmest contacts (friends, family, past customers)

• When messaging imported contacts, always reference how you know them

• Focus on rebuilding relationships first, business opportunities second

• Always provide an easy way to unsubscribe or opt out

After Your Import: Next Steps

Once your contacts are imported:

1. Review and Clean Up

• Check for duplicates (Pipeline Funnels handles most of these automatically)

• Update any incomplete information

• Add additional tags if needed

2. Start Engaging

• Don't immediately blast everyone with sales messages

• Start with personal messages: "Hey! Hope you're doing well..."

• Build relationships first, business second

3. Add to Pipelines

• Business prospects → Business pipeline

• Product prospects → Product pipeline

• Existing customers → Customer follow-up sequences

4. Set Up Follow-Up

• Create workflows for different contact types

• Schedule regular check-ins

• Track which contacts are most engaged

Frequently Asked Questions

How many contacts can I import at once?

Pipeline Funnels can handle thousands of contacts in a single import. We've successfully imported 10,000+ contacts at once. The system is built to handle large databases.

What if my contacts are in a different format?

Most contact formats can be converted to CSV. Try searching online for conversion tools like "Convert CSV online" or ask in our support chat for specific format help.

Will this create duplicate contacts?

Pipeline Funnels is smart about duplicates. It matches contacts by email address, so if someone is already in your system, it will update their information rather than creating a duplicate.

Can I import contacts without email addresses?

You need either an email OR phone number for each contact. Contacts with both are ideal, but Pipeline Funnels will accept contacts with just one or the other.

What if I make a mistake during import?

You can delete imported contacts by using the tag you applied during import. Go to Contacts → filter by that tag → select all → delete. Then re-import with correct settings.

How do I avoid violating spam laws?

Only import contacts you have a relationship with or explicit permission to contact. When messaging, reference how you know them and provide clear unsubscribe options. Focus on relationships, not just sales.

Can I import the same list multiple times?

Yes, but Pipeline Funnels will update existing contacts rather than create duplicates. This is useful for updating contact information from external sources.

Questions? Our support team is available through chat if you need help with any specific import challenges!