How to Import Leads to LeadSquared?

Feature Overview

You can import your leads into LeadSquared through a CSV (Comma Separated Value) file.
If you’re storing your lead data in a spreadsheet, database application or any other software, you’ll first have to export the leads to a CSV file and then follow the steps listed here.

Note:

  • You can’t stop or undo a lead import once it starts.
  • The default import limit through CSV is 25,000 leads. To extend this limit contact your account manager or write to support@leadsquared.com. It can be extended to a maximum of 300,000.
  • You can also bulk-update lead fields through CSV (excel) import by selecting Overwrite duplicates or Update empty fields of duplicates in Import Setting (section 5).

 

1. Prerequisites

  • The file type must be CSV.
    If your data is stored in a Microsoft Excel file, save it as a Comma Separated Value (CSV) file. CSV content should not have comma (,) semicolon (;), pipe (|), tilde (~), back quote (`), caret (^) in the header. You can refer to Formats supported in Excel to learn more on how to save an excel file into CSV file.
  • Column names are mandatory.
    You must enter column names in the CSV file. These are the different lead attributes or fields like First Name, Last Name, Email, etc.
  • Download the sample CSV file.
    Download the sample CSV file to learn to understand how your file should be structured.
     
  • Create custom lead fields.
    LeadSquared has standard system fields like First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, etc. If you want to import custom lead attributes specific to your business like Budget, Examination Results, etc., you can create them by navigating to My Account>Settings>Customization>Lead Fields. For more information, see How to Create Custom Lead Fields.

Note:

  • You can also import custom field sets (non file type fields). For example, if you have a parent lead field called ‘Identification Documents’ and the associated custom field set has the child field – ‘Status’, then pass – Identification Documents – Status
  • Lead import supports prospect ID as a column header in the CSV file as well. This is useful when there are no unique fields configured in an account. Users can export the CSV, and use the Prospect ID to make updates and re-import the leads.

 

2. How it Works

  1. Upload the CSV file with your lead information.
  2. Map the CSV fields to the fields in your LeadSquared account.
  3. Choose how you want to handle duplicate lead records, select the lead owner, and choose lead sources.
  4. View the summary to check for errors.

 

3. Upload the CSV File

1. From the dashboard, navigate to Leads>Manage Leads, then click Import Leads.

Import Leads into LeadSquared

2. Click the Click Upload CSV, select the file and upload it. Click Next once the file is uploaded.

Import Leads into LeadSquared

Note: If you’re not sure of how to arrange the data in the CSV file, click to download the sample CSV as highlighted below –

Import Leads into LeadSquared

 

4. Map Fields

1. Click on the checkboxes alongside the fields you want to map. By default, all the checkboxes are selected. Select the field in your LeadSquared account from the drop-down on the right.

Import Leads into LeadSquared

2. If a field in your CSV file doesn’t exist in your LeadSquared account, click Create New Field and define the field properties.

Import Leads into LeadSquared

Note: You can also map Account Type and Account Name fields in your CSV to an account type and account name in LeadSquared.

  • The Account Type you pass in the CSV must exist in your LeadSquared system.
    • If you pass an existing account name, the lead will be added to that account.
    • If you pass a new account name, a new account will be created in LeadSquared and the lead will be added to it.

 

5. Import Settings

Import Leads into LeadSquared

Lead Import Rules

If a CSV file contains a lead with an email address that already exists in your LeadSquared account, the lead is considered to be a duplicate.

You have three options to handle duplicates –

  • Ignore duplicates
    If you select this option, duplicate records will not be imported. This is the default option that is pre-selected.
  • Overwrite duplicates
    If you select this option, the CSV file data will overwrite the data in your LeadSquared account. The following checkboxes will also be available for selection.
  • Import only if valid email exists in CSV
  • Do not update owner of existing leads
  • Do not create new leads – this will ensure leads are only updated and no new leads are created.
  • Update empty fields of duplicates
    With this option, only empty fields of the duplicate records in LeadSquared will be updated with the data in the  CSV file.

Uncheck the Import only if valid email id exists in CSV if you want to import leads with invalid email addresses as well.

Here are some examples –

Assume that john.smith@acmecorp.com already exists in your LeadSquared account. The CSV file you’re importing also contains the same Email Id.

Import Leads into LeadSquared

  • If you select the ignore duplicates, the lead will not be imported.
  • If you choose the overwrite duplicates, the lead fields you have chosen to map will update the existing lead in your account.
    • For example, if you selected First Name, Company and Lead Stage, only these fields will be updated for the existing record. The new values in LeadSquared will be John, Acme Corp and Prospect.
  • If you select update empty fields, lead fields which are empty in your LeadSquared account will be update.
    • For example, if you have chosen to map Lead Stage, and that field is empty in for the lead in your account, then only the Lead Stage will be updated to Prospect. The remaining fields will remain the same.

Select List and Owner

  • By default, the logged in user is displayed as the lead owner. You can change the lead owner from the drop-down.
  • You can assign the leads to a list you’ve created, or you can create a new list. If you want to create a new list, enter the list name and a description.
  • You can also assign tags to the imported leads. The tags can be used to filter the imported leads from the Manage Leads page.

Note: When you create a new list, it gets created as a Static List. To learn more, see List Management.

Select Source

  • You can specify the source (organic search, referral sites, etc.) from which you obtained your leads.
  • The Import Summary Note option lets you enter text to specify details about the CSV file. For example, you could mention where you collected the data (Mall, Kiosk, Office, etc.), a partner you recieved the data from or even the old system (Zoho CRM, SalesForce, etc.)

Note: If you mapped a particular lead field in your CSV file to the Lead Source field in LeadSquared, then this option is automatically updated. You will not be allowed to make changes here. For instance, if a field named Reference is mapped to Lead Source, these details will get updated automatically.

 

6. Summary

If your file was successfully imported, you’ll see a success message.

Import Leads into LeadSquared

Click the highlighted link to view the status of your lead import. You may click the actionsSettings iconicon and select Send Import Report to receive an email with the details of your import.

Import Leads into LeadSquared

Regardless of the Send Import Report option, once your import is complete, you’ll receive an email with a link to download your original CSV. This CSV will have two additional columns ‘ImportStatus’ and ‘ImportMessage’ to help you understand which records were imported/ignored.

Import Leads into LeadSquared

If errors occur, correct the unprocessed records and restart the Import Leads process with the corrected file.

 

7. Data Formats

You may encounter some of the following situations –

  • When your CSV files contain date fields, example ‘Contacted On’, ‘Followed Up On’, ‘Birthday’, and so on, you should ensure that you’ve created a matching custom field in your LeadSquared account.
    For more information on how to create a custom field, see How to Create Custom Fields. Also, ensure that date fields have the correct format – dd/mm/yy or mm/dd/yy.
  • If your CSV file contains a field which can be represented through a drop-down, you could create a matching custom field to map it to during the import process.
  • If the CSV file contains a lead field of type ‘Boolean’, you can create a matching custom field and then map the information during the import process. If the field is empty then, by default it is mapped as ‘NO’ in LeadSquared.
    • For example, you may a lead field for ‘Valid Passport’. If a lead in your CSV file has an empty value for this column, it will get mapped as a ‘No’ in your LeadSquared account.
  • If your CSV file contains a field for ‘Do Not Email  you can map it to the ‘Do Not Email’ field in your account.

 

Any Questions?

We hope this article was helpful. Please leave us a comment below if you have more questions.

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Kunal
Kunal
1 month ago

I wish to edit the current leads that have been uploaded. For eg – The owner of a particular lead needs to be changed. Can I do it by importing a CSV file? I know how to edit it manually for every lead, but is it possible via CSV file?

Dharshana Santhanam
Reply to  Kunal
1 month ago

Hello, Kunal.
Yes, you can update leads through Lead Import. While importing the leads, in the third step, select Overwrite duplicates.
Overwrite duplicates

Manoj
Manoj
9 months ago

What is the purpose of Mandatory:  Do not update owner of existing Opportunities

Dharshana Santhanam
Reply to  Manoj
9 months ago

Hi, Manoj.
This is a setting you’ll be able to access if you’ve selected Overwrite Duplicates while importing opportunities. This setting can ensure that the value in the ‘opportunity owner’ field will not be overwritten via import even if you have sent the same in the import file. . For example, let’s say you wish to import 5 opportunities. All 5 opps have different owners and you have sent updated owners for them in the import file. If you enable the option Mandatory: Do not update owner of existing Opportunities, the opportunity owners will not be updated as per the value sent in the import file and will remain intact as before. However, if you do disable the setting, all relevant opportunity fields will be updated as per the import file along with the opportunity owners also.

Rajath
1 year ago

Hi, When I update leads in bulk through CSV, it does not trigger the lead creation webhook. Is there some setting that needs to be enabled for this?

Rajath

Sri Sudhan
Admin
Reply to  Rajath
1 year ago

Hi, Rajath. LeadSquared does not trigger webhooks based on any bulk operations (such as Bulk Update Leads via CSV). If this changes in the future, we’ll keep you informed. Thanks!

Y M
Y M
Reply to  Sri Sudhan
6 months ago

Also if we have any automation set for lead create (not webhooks), the created leads also do not enter automation ?

Sri Sudhan
Admin
Reply to  Y M
6 months ago

Hey, YM. If the bulk trigger is enabled, and during Trigger Configuration, if you’ve enabled the Trigger on Import option, the automation will trigger.

Guru
Guru
1 year ago

How can we import remarks or comments into notes with respect to each lead from CSV.

rohit rana
1 year ago

How do we change the search key?