Step by step guide to importing and segmenting linkedin contacts in Drippi

If you're tired of wrestling with messy LinkedIn exports or just want to actually use those contacts you've been collecting, this guide's for you. We'll walk through how to import LinkedIn contacts into Drippi, clean up your list, and slice it into segments that actually make sense. No hype, no fluff—just steps that work, with some honest notes on what to skip.

Why bother with this?

LinkedIn is a goldmine for business connections, but their export files aren’t exactly plug-and-play. If you want to move past endless spreadsheets and actually do something with your network—personalized outreach, targeted campaigns, maybe even just organizing your contacts so you can find people again—importing into Drippi is a smart move.

But, as with most things, the devil’s in the details. So let’s get straight to it.

Step 1: Export Your LinkedIn Contacts

Let’s start with the basics: getting your contacts out of LinkedIn. Don’t overthink it—LinkedIn makes this possible, but not always painless.

How to export

  1. Go to LinkedIn, click “Me” in the top right, then “Settings & Privacy.”
  2. Find the “Data Privacy” section and click “Get a copy of your data.”
  3. Select “Connections” and hit “Request archive.”
  4. You’ll get an email when your data is ready (usually within a few minutes).
  5. Download the ZIP file, open it, and grab the Connections.csv file.

Pro tip: LinkedIn’s export is just names and email addresses. You won’t get company names, job titles, or anything juicy—unless your contacts have allowed it. Don’t expect magic.

Step 2: Clean Up Your CSV File

Before you touch Drippi, do yourself a favor and open the CSV in Excel or Google Sheets. LinkedIn’s export is basic, but it’s still messy.

What you’ll see

  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Email Address
  • Company (if you’re lucky)
  • Position (rarely filled out)

What to check

  • Empty rows: Delete them.
  • Duplicates: LinkedIn sometimes exports the same contact twice.
  • Weird characters: Watch out for odd symbols—these can trip up imports.
  • Emails: If you see a lot of blanks, don’t get your hopes up. LinkedIn only gives you what people have shared.

Should you edit now?

If you have hundreds or thousands of contacts, don’t try to fix everything. Just clear out obvious junk—Drippi can do more later. The main point: make sure your file isn’t garbage before uploading.

Step 3: Import into Drippi

Now for the main event. Drippi’s import tool is straightforward, but there are a few traps if you’re not careful.

Uploading your file

  1. Log into Drippi.
  2. Head to the “Contacts” section.
  3. Look for the “Import” button (usually top right—if you don’t see it, you might not have permission).
  4. Upload your cleaned-up CSV file.

Mapping fields

Drippi will try to match LinkedIn’s columns to its own. Usually it guesses right, but double-check:

  • First Name → First Name
  • Last Name → Last Name
  • Email Address → Email
  • Company → Company (if available)
  • Position → Job Title (if available)

Don’t stress if you’re missing fields—if LinkedIn didn’t give you the data, there’s nothing to import.

Dealing with errors

  • If Drippi complains about missing emails, it’s because LinkedIn only gives you what contacts have shared. You can skip those or import them without an email, but you won’t be able to email them directly.
  • If your file won’t upload at all, check the format: it must be .csv, not Excel’s default .xlsx.

Pro tip: If you want to tag this whole batch (e.g., “LinkedIn Import June 2024”), do it now. Drippi should let you assign tags as part of the import—super handy for segmenting later.

Step 4: Basic List Hygiene in Drippi

Once your contacts are in Drippi, do a quick check to make sure everything looks right.

What to look for

  • Obvious duplicates: Drippi has de-dupe tools, but don’t expect miracles. If you see two “John Smiths” with the same email, merge them.
  • Formatting errors: Sometimes names show up in all caps or with weird spacing. You can fix these in bulk if it really bugs you.

What not to sweat

  • Missing data. If LinkedIn didn’t provide it, it’s not your fault.
  • Perfect job titles. Unless you’re running a super-targeted campaign, don’t waste hours fixing these.

Use Drippi’s built-in tools

  • Bulk actions: Tag, delete, or merge contacts in bulk.
  • Filters: Use filters to spot contacts missing key info, like email addresses or company.

Step 5: Segmenting Your Contacts

Here’s where things get interesting—and where most people overcomplicate things. Segmentation is just grouping your contacts in a way that makes sense for your outreach.

Start simple

Don’t try to invent a dozen segments from the get-go. Here are a few easy ways to segment:

  • By import source: If you tagged this import, you can filter by “LinkedIn Import.”
  • By company: If you’re targeting certain companies, filter and tag those.
  • By job title: If the data is there, segment by role (“Marketing,” “Sales,” etc.).

How to segment in Drippi

  1. Go to the Contacts page.
  2. Use filters to narrow down your list (by tag, company, job title, etc.).
  3. Select all filtered contacts.
  4. Apply a tag (e.g., “C-Level,” “Potential Partners,” “Event Attendees”).

Pro tip: Tags are your friend. Don’t worry about “lists” or “segments” vs. “tags”—Drippi uses tags for almost everything, so lean on them.

What works (and what doesn’t)

  • Works: Simple, broad tags you’ll remember and actually use.
  • Doesn’t work: Overly complex segment names (“Q2 2024 LinkedIn CEOs from SaaS Companies in Berlin”). You’ll forget what it means in a month.
  • Ignore: Any advice that tells you to segment down to the last detail unless you’re running a massive campaign. Start broad, get specific later if needed.

Step 6: Use Your Segments for Outreach

Now that you’ve got contacts and segments, you can actually do something with them.

  • Personalized emails: Start with a basic template, but tweak it for each segment.
  • Campaigns: Drippi should let you send to a tag or filter, so you don’t have to build a new list every time.
  • Follow-up reminders: Tag people you want to circle back to later.

Be real: Don’t blast everyone with the same message. Use your segments to make outreach less spammy—and more likely to get a response.

What to skip (unless you love busywork)

  • Perfecting every contact: Most outreach fails because it’s impersonal, not because a job title was missing.
  • Manually updating LinkedIn profiles: If you want richer data, consider a tool that scrapes LinkedIn (careful—most break the rules and could get you banned).
  • Syncing every week: Unless your contacts change constantly, a quarterly import/update is plenty.

A Few Honest Gotchas

  • Limited data: LinkedIn hides a lot of info. Blame them, not Drippi.
  • Duplicates: You’ll always have some. Don’t waste days chasing them all down.
  • Don’t rely on this for a CRM: Drippi’s great for outreach and basic management. If you need deep CRM features, look elsewhere.

Keep It Simple—and Iterate

Importing and segmenting LinkedIn contacts in Drippi doesn’t need to be a massive project. Start with a clean import, tag your batches, and build out segments as you go. Don’t fall for shiny features or waste time perfecting data you’ll never use. The point is to make your network actually work for you—so keep it simple, take action, and tweak your process as you learn what works.

You’ll get further by doing a little now and iterating, rather than stalling out trying to build a perfect system. Good luck—and don’t let your contacts just sit in a spreadsheet ever again.