If you’re in sales or marketing and tired of spraying emails into the void, this is for you. Clean, targeted outreach still works—but only if you start with well-segmented, properly imported lead lists. Here’s how to do it right in Salesloop without wasting time on busywork or getting doomed to the spam folder.
Step 1: Decide Who Actually Belongs on Your List
Before you even touch Salesloop, step back and ask: “Who do I really want to reach?” This sounds obvious but skipping it makes the rest of your work about 60% less effective.
What segmentation actually matters? - Job titles — Not just “CEO.” Think: “VP of Sales,” “Head of Operations,” etc. - Industry/type of company — Tech startups, manufacturers, agencies, etc. - Company size — Are you targeting 10-person shops or Fortune 500s? - Location — Useful for time zones, regulations, or local offers. - Intent signals — Website visits, event attendance, or interaction with previous campaigns.
What to ignore:
- Overly broad lists (“everyone in software”) or lists you bought for $20 on the internet. They’re more likely to get you flagged as spam than land you a client.
Pro tip:
Start with one narrow segment. If you can’t describe your target in a single sentence, it’s probably too broad.
Step 2: Clean Your Lead List Before Importing (Seriously, Do This)
It’s tempting to just upload whatever CSV you’ve got and call it a day. That’s how you end up with bad emails, missing names, and angry replies. Garbage in, garbage out.
What to check: - Valid email addresses — Use a tool (like NeverBounce, ZeroBounce, or even Excel formulas) to clear out obvious duds. - Duplicate contacts — Having the same person twice is an easy way to look sloppy. - Missing fields — If you’re going to personalize, you need first names, company names, etc. - Formatting — Keep columns consistent. Salesloop isn’t magic; it can’t guess what “Biz” means if you meant “Company.”
Quick cleaning checklist: - Delete empty rows. - Standardize column headers. - Remove anyone you really shouldn’t contact (competitors, current customers, etc.). - Save your file as CSV or XLSX—Salesloop takes both, but CSV is less likely to get weird.
Honest take:
Most “lead lists” are only about 60-70% usable out of the box. Expect to spend real time here if you want results.
Step 3: Import Your List Into Salesloop
Now you’re ready for Salesloop. Here’s how to get your cleaned, segmented list into the system without headaches.
3.1. Log in and Find “Leads” or “Import” Section
- On the left sidebar or main dashboard, look for a tab labeled “Leads,” “Contacts,” or an “Import” button.
- If you’re lost, use the search bar—most CRMs bury this stuff.
3.2. Upload Your File
- Click “Import.”
- Choose your CSV/XLSX file.
- Salesloop should preview your data. Double-check that columns matched up correctly (e.g., “First Name” isn’t mapped to “Company”).
If you see weird stuff:
- Go back and check your file. Sometimes extra commas or hidden rows throw things off.
- Don’t just “fix it later”—bad data in means bad campaigns out.
3.3. Map Fields
- Salesloop will ask you to match your spreadsheet’s columns to its database fields.
- Map “Email” to “Email,” “Name” to “First Name,” etc.
- If you’ve got custom fields (like “Favorite Snack”), now’s your chance to use them. But don’t get cute unless you plan to actually use the info.
3.4. Choose Your List/Segment
- Decide if this batch should go into a new list or an existing segment.
- Naming matters: “Q2 2024 Outbound - SaaS CEOs” is better than “List 1.”
3.5. Review and Confirm
- Salesloop will usually give you a summary: number of leads, any issues, etc.
- Fix any red flags before hitting “Import.”
Heads up:
Some platforms promise “automatic de-duplication.” Always double-check. No system is perfect.
Step 4: Segment in Salesloop for Real Targeting
Uploading is just the start. Now, use Salesloop’s filters to break your list into segments that actually make sense for campaigns.
Common segmentation filters in Salesloop: - Job title/role - Location (country, region, or city) - Industry - Company size - Recent engagement (opened emails, clicked links, etc.)
How to set up segments: 1. Go to your leads dashboard. 2. Click “Filter” or “Segment.” 3. Stack filters to narrow your audience: e.g., “Title contains ‘Marketing’ AND Company Size > 50.” 4. Save segments with clear names so you’re not hunting later.
What works:
- Segmenting by engagement (e.g., only people who opened last quarter’s campaign) leads to higher conversion rates.
- Job title plus company size is usually more precise than “industry” alone.
What doesn’t:
- Over-segmenting. If your segment has 8 people, that’s probably too specific.
- Chasing “intent data” unless it’s rock-solid (most isn’t).
Step 5: Personalize Campaigns Without Losing Your Mind
Now that your segments are set, don’t undo your hard work with generic messaging.
Best practices: - Use merge tags (like {FirstName}) in subject lines and intros. - Reference specifics: “I noticed your team at {Company} just launched X…” - Don’t overdo it—awkward personalizations (“Saw you like golf on LinkedIn!”) are worse than none at all.
Pro tip:
Write one solid email and tweak for each segment. Resist the urge to write a “master template” with 18 variables. It’s obvious and usually backfires.
What to skip:
- Gimmicky personalization (“I see you went to Ohio State!”) unless it’s truly relevant.
- Copying and pasting the same pitch to every segment.
Step 6: Test, Track, and Clean Up
Once your campaign is live, don’t just watch open rates—act on what you learn.
What to track: - Bounce and unsubscribe rates: High numbers here mean your list needs another cleaning. - Replies and conversions by segment: Double down on what works, pause what doesn’t. - Engagement over time: Segments that go cold might need a new approach or a rest.
Regular maintenance: - Remove bounced or unsubscribed contacts from future lists. - Update or merge duplicates. - Re-segment if you notice new patterns (e.g., a new industry starts responding).
Honest take:
No list is perfect forever. If you’re not cleaning and updating at least quarterly, you’re probably wasting effort and risking your sender reputation.
Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Buy Crappy Lists
Segmenting and importing lead lists in Salesloop isn’t rocket science, but it does take real effort up front. Don’t fall for shortcuts or overcomplicate things with 20 micro-segments. Start simple, keep your data clean, and tweak your approach as you learn what actually works. That’s how you run targeted campaigns that don’t just annoy people—they convert.