If you’ve ever wasted a day wrestling with a janky CSV file or sent a blast email to the wrong crowd, this guide is for you. We’re talking about the real steps to get your lead lists into Gorattle, whip them into shape, and actually use segmentation to reach the right people—not just everyone with an email address. Whether you’re new to CRMs or you’ve been burned by clunky imports and useless fields before, I’ll walk you through what works, what’s just noise, and what to skip altogether.
Step 1: Get Your Lead List Ready (Don’t Skip This)
Before you even open Gorattle, get your lead list in order. Seriously, bad imports start with messy data. Most people try to “fix it in post.” Don’t.
Here’s what you actually need:
- A CSV file — Excel or Google Sheets both work, but you’ll export as CSV.
- Columns you care about — First name, last name, email, company, and whatever segments matter to you (like “Industry” or “Lead Source”). Don’t include junk you won’t use.
- Consistent formatting — No weird merged cells, split names, or notes stuffed in columns.
Pro tip:
If you’ve got multiple sources (like LinkedIn exports, conference signups, etc.), combine and clean them now. Duplicates are easier to spot in a spreadsheet than after you import.
Step 2: Importing Leads into Gorattle
Now you’re ready to bring your leads into Gorattle. The import tool is decent, but it’s not magic—garbage in, garbage out.
2.1. Find the Import Function
- Log in to Gorattle.
- Head to the “Leads” or “Contacts” section (naming can change, but it’s usually obvious).
- Look for an “Import” button—often in the top right or under a menu.
2.2. Upload Your CSV
- Select your CSV file.
- Gorattle will preview your data. Double-check that columns match up (e.g., “First Name” in your file goes to “First Name” in Gorattle).
- Map any missing fields. If your CSV has something like “Industry” and Gorattle doesn’t, you’ll need to create a custom field.
2.3. Handle Duplicates
Gorattle usually asks what to do if a contact already exists:
- Update existing — Good if you’re enriching data.
- Skip duplicates — Play it safe if you’re unsure.
- Create new — Only if you’re certain there are no overlaps (rare).
What’s worth your time:
- Double-check the “preview” step—this is where import disasters happen.
- Take the time to add or map custom fields now. Retrofitting later is a pain.
What’s not:
- Worrying about every tiny field. Focus on what you’ll actually use in outreach and segmentation.
Step 3: Clean Up After Import (Yes, Always)
Even with a perfect CSV, some stuff will slip through.
- Spot-check a few random entries. Look for scrambled names, missing emails, or weird formatting.
- Tag or assign new leads. If Gorattle supports tags or lists, put your new leads in a group so you don’t lose track.
Pro tip:
If something looks off, fix it now. If a field imported wrong, undo and re-import. It’s less work than fixing 500 leads one at a time later.
Step 4: Segmenting Your Lead List for Smarter Outreach
This is where most folks get lazy—and pay for it with bad campaigns. Segmentation isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the difference between “Hey, you at Company Inc.” and “Hey, Sarah, saw your team at SaaS Summit.”
4.1. Decide on Segmentation Criteria
Don’t overthink it. Start with:
- Company size
- Industry
- Job title/seniority
- Lead source
- Geography
Pick 2-3 that actually matter for your message. Ignore the rest.
4.2. Use Gorattle’s Filters and Lists
- Go to your Leads/Contacts view.
- Use filtering tools to sort by your chosen fields.
- Save your filtered views as static lists (one-time snapshot) or dynamic segments (auto-updating as new leads match).
What works: - Dynamic segments for ongoing campaigns (e.g., always target “Marketing Directors in SaaS”). - Static lists for one-off blasts or events.
What doesn’t: - Creating dozens of micro-segments you’ll never use. Start broad, then narrow only as needed.
4.3. Tagging vs. Segmenting
Some CRMs push “tags” as the answer to everything. Be careful: tags get messy fast. Use segments for real targeting, tags only for simple organization (like “2024 Conference” or “VIP”).
Step 5: Launch Outreach—But Test First
You’ve got your leads and your segments. Don’t hit “send to all” just yet.
- Send a test campaign to a small group within your segment.
- Check for weird merge fields (“Hi FIRSTNAME,” isn’t a good look).
- Review deliverability and open rates. If your segment is too broad or too random, refine it.
Pro tip:
If you’re getting a lot of bounces or unsubscribes, your list isn’t as clean or targeted as you thought. Go back and trim or re-segment.
What to Ignore (And Why)
- Importing every field “just in case.” You’ll never use half of them and they just clutter things up.
- Chasing “AI-powered” segmentation. Most of it is smoke and mirrors. Start with solid basic filters and manual review.
- Spending hours color-coding or tagging unless you really need it. It looks organized, but it rarely moves the needle.
Recap: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Importing and segmenting leads in Gorattle isn’t rocket science, but it’s easy to overcomplicate. Start with clean data, import just what you need, set up a handful of useful segments, and test before you go big. Don’t fall for the “do everything at once” trap—just get the basics right, and you’ll actually reach people who want to hear from you.
If it’s not working, tweak your fields or segments and try again. You’ll get better results with a few clean, targeted lists than with a giant, messy database.