# Importing Contacts to Mailchimp? Tips for a Smooth Upload

Even small oversights, an extra space or a misplaced comma can cause hiccups when importing contacts. Whether you're migrating from another CRM or refreshing an existing list, these tips will help you avoid common errors and get it right on the first try.

File Format: Mailchimp only supports .csv or tab-delimited .txt files.  Excel and vCards won't work. If you're exporting from a European spreadsheet program, swap out any semicolons for commas before importing. And if your export just isn't cooperating, try uploading it to Google Sheets and re-downloading as a fresh CSV to strip out any hidden formatting.

Email & SMS Requirements: Use =TRIM() in your spreadsheet to catch accidental spaces and watch for common typos like "gamil.com" or a missing dot. Keep in mind that only one marketing status. Subscribed or Unsubscribed can be imported per session. For SMS, every number must be in E.164 format (e.g., +14045551234) and can only be imported from your registered sending country. Never leave SMS fields blank because blank fields will overwrite existing data.

Data Mapping: Mailchimp will auto-match your columns where it can, which cuts down on manual work. For addresses, use two spaces instead of commas to separate parts and stick to two-letter country codes (US, GB). To add tags in bulk, create a single "Tags" column and separate multiple tags with commas.

Before You Upload: Before hitting import, do a quick run-through of the basics. Make sure your file is saved as a .csv or .txt, SMS numbers are formatted in E.164 (e.g., +14045551234), dates follow YYYY-MM-DD or MM-DD-YYYY format, and country codes are two-letter abbreviations like GB instead of UK. A quick check here can save a lot of back-and-forth later. Additional Resources: Import Contacts to Mailchimp: <a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://intuit.me/3QNYZhs">https://intuit.me/3QNYZhs</a>

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: 2 months ago
- Author title: Social Media Specialist and Blogger
- Net upvotes: 1



## Related Product
[Intuit Mailchimp Email Marketing](https://www.g2.com/products/intuit-mailchimp-email-marketing/reviews)

## Related Category
[Email Marketing](https://www.g2.com/categories/email-marketing)

## Related discussions
- [How well does Trello scale into a larger team?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/1-how-well-does-trello-scale-into-a-larger-team)
  - Posted at: about 13 years ago
  - Comments: 6
- [Can we please add a new section](https://www.g2.com/discussions/2-can-we-please-add-a-new-section)
  - Posted at: about 13 years ago
  - Comments: 0
- [Quantifiable benefits from implementing your CRM](https://www.g2.com/discussions/quantifiable-benefits-from-implementing-your-crm)
  - Posted at: about 13 years ago
  - Comments: 4