If you’re using 2xconnect and tired of wading through a swamp of random contacts, this guide is for you. Whether you’re new to B2B targeting or just sick of clunky CRMs, I’ll show you how to actually get your leads into 2xconnect, make sense of them, and avoid wasting time chasing the wrong folks. No fluff, just what you need to get results.
1. Know your lead data (before you import)
Let’s not skip straight to clicking buttons. Garbage in, garbage out, right? Before you even touch 2xconnect, take a hard look at your lead list:
- What fields do you actually have? (Name, company, email, phone, industry, job title, etc.)
- Is your data clean? (No weird extra spaces, broken emails, or missing companies?)
- Do you know what makes a good lead for you? (Just because they downloaded a whitepaper doesn't mean they're worth your time.)
Pro tip: Spend 10 minutes cleaning up your spreadsheet. Remove obvious junk, fix typos, and standardize things like industry names. It’ll save you hours later.
2. Format your leads for 2xconnect
2xconnect ([2xconnect.html]) wants your data in a certain format, and if you don’t play along, you’ll just get error messages. Here’s what usually works best:
- CSV file: Stick to .csv format – it’s the least likely to break.
- Column headers: Make sure the first row has clear headers (e.g., “First Name”, “Company”, “Email”).
- No merged cells: Each cell should have just one piece of info.
- Consistent values: If you use “VP” in one row and “Vice President” in another, pick one and stick to it.
What to ignore: Don’t bother importing columns you’ll never use. Extra noise just makes segmentation harder.
3. Import leads into 2xconnect
Now for the main event. Here’s how to get your leads into 2xconnect without losing your mind:
- Log in to 2xconnect.
- Find the Import feature. Usually buried under “Leads,” “Contacts,” or “Data Management.” If you’re stuck, hit the help icon—don’t waste 10 minutes clicking every tab.
- Upload your CSV. Drag and drop or use the upload button.
- Map your fields. 2xconnect will try to guess which columns match which fields, but don’t trust it blindly. Double-check every mapping (especially for email and company).
- Review before confirming. Skim the preview—look for obvious mistakes.
- Start the import. This could take seconds or a few minutes, depending on your file size.
Heads up: If you see errors, check for: - Strange characters (like emojis or curly quotes) - Missing required fields (especially email) - File size limits (split big files if needed)
If the import goes sideways, don’t panic. Clean up your CSV, and try again. Most issues come down to formatting.
4. Tag and categorize your leads
Now you’ve got your leads in, but they’re just sitting there. Here’s how to get them organized for targeting:
- Tags: Think of these like sticky notes. Use them for things like “2024 Event,” “Old Customer,” or “Hot Lead.”
- Custom fields: If you have unique info (e.g., “Product Interest” or “Annual Revenue”), add it as a custom field.
- Lists or Groups: Use these for broader buckets, like “UK Prospects” or “Manufacturing Vertical.”
What works: Keep your tags and lists tight. Too many tags = chaos. Only tag things you’ll actually use to filter or segment later.
What doesn’t: Don’t overthink the perfect taxonomy. You can always tweak it later. Get something simple in place and move on.
5. Segment your leads for precise targeting
This is where most people get lazy and pay for it later. Good segmentation means you’re not blasting the same message to everyone.
Here’s how to do it in 2xconnect:
- Decide what matters: Industry? Company size? Recent engagement? Pick a few criteria that actually move the needle for your business.
- Use filters: In the lead view, filter by field (e.g., “Industry = SaaS,” “Title contains ‘Director’”).
- Save segments: If you’ll use a filter combo more than once, save it as a segment or smart list.
- Test your segments: Pull up a few leads in each segment. Make sure the right people are showing up—otherwise, tweak your criteria.
- Don’t chase perfection: You’ll never get every segment exactly right. Aim for “good enough to start.”
Examples that actually work: - “IT Directors at companies with 100-500 employees in North America” - “Manufacturing leads tagged from 2024 trade show” - “Old customers who haven’t opened an email in 6 months”
What to ignore: Fancy segmentation tricks you read about on LinkedIn. If you can’t explain why a segment matters for your business, skip it.
6. Use segments to run targeted campaigns
You’ve got your segments—now use them. Here’s what typically delivers:
- Personalized outreach: Send emails that actually reference what matters to each segment (“Saw you’re in manufacturing—here’s how we help…”).
- Track engagement: Watch which segments respond. If a segment’s a dud, stop wasting time on it.
- Iterate: Tweak your segments based on real results, not what you think will work.
Pitfall to avoid: Don’t spam everyone with slightly tweaked templates. B2B buyers are savvy—they’ll spot a mail merge a mile away.
7. Keep it clean: Regularly review and prune your leads
A bloated database is a dead database. Regularly:
- Remove obvious junk leads (bounced emails, irrelevant companies).
- Merge duplicates.
- Update tags and segments as your targeting changes.
- Archive or tag “cold” leads so they don’t muddy your active lists.
Time-saving tip: Block 30 minutes each month for database housekeeping. Set a calendar reminder, or you’ll forget.
What actually matters (and what doesn’t)
If you remember one thing, it’s this: Clean data and simple segments beat fancy tools every time. Don’t get distracted by shiny features or over-engineered workflows. You want a process you’ll actually stick with, not something you set up once and abandon.
Final thoughts
Importing and segmenting leads in 2xconnect isn’t rocket science—but it is easy to overcomplicate. Focus on clean data and clear, practical segments. Don’t worry about getting it perfect on the first try. Start simple, see what works, and iterate as you go. That’s how you get real results, minus the headache.