If you’re wrangling messy spreadsheets and half-baked CRM exports for your go-to-market (GTM) teams, this guide is for you. Whether you’re in ops, marketing, or just the “data person” by default, you know that bad data leads to wasted time, missed targets, and embarrassing campaign fails. The good news: importing and cleaning your data in Opnbx doesn’t have to be a nightmare—if you know what to watch out for.
Let’s walk through, step by step, how to get your data into Opnbx, clean it up, and (most importantly) avoid the classic mistakes that can tank your GTM campaigns.
1. Prep Your Data Before Importing
Don’t skip this. Most import headaches start with the source file. Spend 10 minutes here, save hours later.
What you need: - Your source data (CSV, XLSX, or exported from a CRM) - A basic spreadsheet tool - A clear idea of why you’re importing this data (campaign, outreach, reporting, etc.)
Prep checklist:
- Consistent columns: Make sure every row uses the same headers. “Email” vs. “Email Address” trips up imports all the time.
- No blank rows or columns: Opnbx is decent at handling blanks, but why risk it?
- Unique IDs: If you have a customer ID or email, make sure it’s unique per row.
- UTF-8 encoding: Weird characters? Export as UTF-8 to avoid gibberish names.
- Remove formulas/macros: Opnbx expects raw data, not Excel magic.
Pro tip: If you’re merging from different sources (say, marketing list + sales exports), do it before you import. Trust me, deduping is easier in Excel than after the fact.
2. Understand What Opnbx Imports — And What It Doesn’t
Opnbx tries to be smart, but it’s not psychic.
Supported file types: - CSV (most reliable) - XLSX (works, but can be finicky with big files) - Direct CRM integrations (only for some platforms—double-check yours)
Fields Opnbx actually uses: - Contact info (email, phone, name) - Company info (name, domain, industry) - Custom fields (these map to your workflows, but need to be named clearly)
Ignores or mangles: - Embedded images, formulas, or notes - Multi-tab spreadsheets (it’ll just grab the first tab) - Long freeform text fields (these get truncated or ignored)
Bottom line: Keep it simple. If you don’t need a column, delete it before importing.
3. Importing Data into Opnbx: Step-by-Step
Ready to pull the trigger? Here’s how to get your file into Opnbx without drama.
Step 1: Navigate to the Import Tool
- Log in to Opnbx.
- Go to your workspace or relevant GTM project.
- Find the “Import Data” or “Upload Contacts” button (usually top right, but UI changes—poke around).
Step 2: Upload Your File
- Click “Upload” and select your prepped file.
- Wait for Opnbx to process it. If your file’s big, this can take a minute.
Step 3: Map Your Fields
- Opnbx will guess which columns map to which fields.
- Don’t trust the auto-mapping. Double-check every field—especially custom ones.
- Fix anything that’s mismatched. (E.g., “Company” got mapped to “First Name”? Fix it.)
- Save your mapping if you’ll use it again.
Step 4: Review for Errors
- Opnbx gives you an error log when something didn’t import. Don’t ignore it.
- Common issues:
- Duplicate emails or IDs
- Invalid email formats (“@gmail,com”)
- Missing required fields (like “Name” or “Account”)
- Download the error report and fix in your original file, then re-import as needed.
4. Cleaning Data Inside Opnbx
Even if you prepped well, junk sneaks through. Here’s how to clean up once your data’s in Opnbx.
Deduplicate Records
- Use Opnbx’s dedupe tools (usually under “Manage Contacts” or “Data Tools”).
- Set your criteria (email, domain, or custom ID).
- Review matches—don’t just bulk merge unless you’re sure.
Standardize Fields
- Use Opnbx’s bulk edit to normalize things like job titles (“VP Sales” vs “Vice President, Sales”).
- For industries or custom tags, stick to a set list—don’t let “SaaS”, “saas”, and “Software” all float around.
Fill in Gaps
- Use enrichment tools (if you pay for them) to autofill missing info.
- Otherwise, export your data, fill the gaps, and re-import.
Remove Junk Data
- Filter for obvious garbage (test records, “asdf@asdf.com”, etc.).
- Delete in bulk—don’t waste time fixing fake leads.
Pro tip: Don’t chase perfect data. Aim for “good enough to act on”—otherwise, you’ll never launch.
5. Setting Up for Accurate GTM Execution
Now that your data’s in and cleaned, set yourself up for less pain down the road.
Document Your Data Model
- Write down what each field means and who “owns” it.
- Share this with anyone touching your GTM data. Otherwise, you’ll get “what does this field do?” emails forever.
Build Smart Segments
- Use Opnbx filters to create lists for each GTM initiative (e.g., “Midwest SaaS CEOs”).
- Save these for re-use—don’t recreate every time.
Automate (But Don’t Trust Automation Blindly)
- Set up automations for assigning leads, updating statuses, or kicking off campaigns.
- Test with a small segment first—automation mistakes scale fast.
Regular Maintenance
- Schedule a monthly cleanup. Even with the best system, junk accumulates.
- Export your data regularly—cloud tools aren’t immune to bugs or bad deletions.
Honest Takes: What Works, What Doesn’t, What to Ignore
- Works: Simple, clean CSVs. Double-checking your mappings. Not relying on enrichment as a silver bullet.
- Doesn’t: Importing raw CRM dumps with 80 columns you’ll never use. Trusting auto-mapping. Leaving “test” data in your live lists.
- Ignore: Fancy “AI cleaning” features unless you’ve tested them with your own data. Magic one-click dedupe. Any promises that say “just import and go.”
Keep It Simple and Iterate
You don’t need perfect data to launch a campaign or start outreach. What you do need is a basic muscle for prepping, importing, and cleaning—fast. Use this guide to get your data into Opnbx without drama, and tweak your process as you go. The simpler you keep it, the more likely you’ll actually use your data—and see results.
Now get back to work. Your next campaign isn’t going to launch itself.