If you’re using outbound sales, you know half the battle is just getting your leads into your system without making a mess. If you’re staring down a spreadsheet of prospects—or worse, a pile of random CSV files—this guide is for you. We’re going to walk through how to import and actually organize your leads in Frontspin, so you can stop wrestling with data and start having real conversations.
Let’s skip the fluff and get right into it.
1. Get Your Leads Ready Before Importing (Seriously, Don’t Skip This)
Before you even open Frontspin, you’ll want your leads in decent shape. Garbage in, garbage out—no CRM can save you from a bad list.
What works:
- Use a spreadsheet (Excel or Google Sheets). Keep it simple: one row per lead, and clear column headers like First Name, Last Name, Email, Company, Phone.
- Check for duplicates and obvious spam. If you import the same person five times, you’ll waste everyone’s time.
- Standardize data. Don’t have “Bob Smith” in one column and “Smith, Bob” in another. Pick a format and stick with it.
- Remove weird formatting. Extra spaces, merged cells, or weird symbols can trip up imports.
What to ignore:
Don’t overthink custom tags or advanced segmentation yet. Just get the basics clean.
Pro tip:
If you’re pulling leads from multiple sources (like LinkedIn, Apollo, or ZoomInfo), merge them all into one sheet and clean up before importing. Saves headaches later.
2. Log In and Find the Import Option
Once your list looks good, log in to Frontspin. The UI isn’t rocket science, but it’s easy to get lost the first time.
- Go to the “Leads” section in the main menu.
- Look for an “Import” or “Upload” button—usually near the top or in a dropdown. (Yes, they move it sometimes. If you can’t find it, search their help docs or ask support.)
Heads up:
You’ll need admin permissions to import. If you don’t see the option, you probably don’t have them.
3. Map Your Fields Carefully
This is where people slip up.
- Upload your CSV or Excel file.
- Frontspin will show your file’s columns on one side and its own CRM fields on the other.
- Map each column to the right field (
First Name→First Name,Company→Account Name, etc).
What works:
- Map only what matters. If you have a Notes column that’s just “met at event,” consider leaving it out unless it’s actually useful.
- For custom fields (like “Industry” or “Lead Source”), only map them if you actually plan to use that info for filtering or follow-up.
What doesn’t: - Don’t map columns to random fields just to make the error go away. You’ll just create confusion later. - Ignore system fields you don’t understand. If you’re not sure what “Lead Score” does, leave it unmapped for now.
Pro tip:
Frontspin sometimes tries to guess mappings. Double-check every field—it’s not always accurate.
4. Set Up Lead Ownership and Assignment
You’ll be prompted to assign leads to users or teams. This matters if you’ve got multiple reps.
Options usually include: - Assign all to yourself. - Distribute evenly among a team. - Assign based on rules (like territory or industry).
What works: - If you don’t have a complex sales org, just assign them to yourself for now. - For teams, use round-robin—Frontspin can usually handle this automatically.
What to ignore: - Overly complicated assignment rules unless you actually need them. You can always reassign leads later with bulk actions.
5. Run the Import (and Watch for Errors)
Hit the import button and let Frontspin process your leads.
What to watch for: - Error messages. If rows fail, Frontspin will tell you why—usually bad emails, missing required fields, or duplicates. - Duplicates. Most CRMs, including Frontspin, will flag or skip duplicates based on email or phone. But don’t trust it blindly. Spot-check a few records after import.
What works: - Import a small batch first (50–100 leads) to make sure your mapping is solid, then do the rest. - Download the error report if any rows failed. Fix them in your spreadsheet and try again.
What doesn’t: - Don’t just ignore errors because “most leads came in.” You’ll regret it when you can’t find someone later.
6. Organize Leads With Lists and Filters
Now your leads are in, but a big list isn’t much help. Time to make it usable.
How to organize: - Create “Smart Lists” or filters based on criteria like industry, lead source, or status. - Use tags or custom fields only if you actually plan to use them for segmenting or searching.
Examples: - “Hot Leads – Northeast” (filtered by state and lead score) - “Uncontacted – Tech Industry” (filtered by last activity and industry) - “No Email Found” (filtered by missing email address—so you can research and fill in later)
Pro tip:
Don’t get sucked into creating lists for every possible thing. Start with broad buckets, then refine as you work.
What works: - Use filters to build your call or email queues for the day. - Archive or delete dead leads regularly—Frontspin can get unwieldy fast.
What doesn’t: - Don’t use 10 different tags for minor differences (“Met at Expo,” “Met at Conference,” “Met at Networking Event”). Keep it simple.
7. Set Up Cadences or Sequences (Optional, But Recommended)
Once leads are organized, you can set up outbound cadences—basically, your standard call/email follow-up sequence.
- Frontspin lets you assign a cadence or sequence to a list or set of leads.
- Start simple: a couple of emails and calls spaced out over a week.
- Track replies and adjust as you go.
What works: - Use templates, but personalize where it matters. Frontspin supports mail merge fields. - Review stats every week. If nobody’s replying, change it up.
What to ignore: - Don’t automate everything. If your emails sound robotic, your reply rates will crater.
8. Maintain Your Lead Database (The Unsexy But Important Part)
This isn’t a “set it and forget it” deal.
- Clean up bounced emails and bad numbers regularly.
- Merge duplicates as you find them.
- Update statuses (e.g., “Contacted,” “Qualified,” “Disqualified”) after every call or email.
Pro tip:
Set a recurring reminder to review your data every month. It’s five minutes that saves you hours down the line.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Importing and organizing leads in Frontspin isn’t complicated, but it’s easy to overthink. Focus on getting clean data in, mapping only what you actually use, and building simple lists you’ll use every day. Don’t get lost in tagging or fancy automation until your basics work. Tweak your process as you go, and remember—your CRM is only as good as the data (and discipline) you put into it.
Now get your leads in and start selling.