So you want to move your contacts from your CRM into Tryleap, but you don’t want to spend days wrangling spreadsheets or clicking through a maze of settings. Maybe you’re switching tools, maybe you’re testing the waters—either way, you just want your contacts in the right place, without a headache.
This guide is for people who’ve got a list of contacts somewhere (HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, you name it) and want them working for them inside Tryleap. We’ll cut through the nonsense and focus on what actually works—and what to avoid.
Before You Start: What You’ll Need
Let’s not waste time—here’s what you actually need before you get started:
- Access to your CRM: You’ll need permission to export contacts. If you’re not an admin, get one on board.
- A Tryleap account: If you don’t have one, sign up and log in.
- Patience for minor hiccups: No import process is perfect, but we’ll keep it as painless as possible.
- A basic understanding of CSV files: Most CRMs export contacts as CSVs. If CSVs are new to you, think of them as glorified spreadsheets.
Pro tip: If your CRM or your version of it doesn’t allow exports, you might be stuck. Some platforms put exports behind paywalls or limit fields. Double-check your plan before spending time here.
Step 1: Export Your Contacts from Your CRM
Every CRM does exports a little differently, but the basics are the same.
1.1 Find the Export Option
- Look for a button labeled “Export,” “Download,” or “Export Contacts” in your CRM’s contacts section.
- Sometimes it’s buried under “More Actions,” “Settings,” or even “Reports.” If you’re lost, search your CRM’s help docs for “export contacts.”
1.2 Choose the Right Format
- CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is your safest bet. Tryleap (and pretty much any tool) can handle CSVs.
- If your CRM offers Excel (.xlsx), that can work too, but CSV avoids weird formatting issues.
1.3 Pick Your Fields
- Export at least the basics: First name, last name, email address. If you want more (phone, company, notes), include those too.
- Don’t get greedy. More fields = more chance for errors. Start simple.
Heads up: Some CRMs throw in a ton of junk columns—IDs, timestamps, or empty fields. You can clean these up later, but the fewer, the better.
1.4 Download and Save
- Download the file, save it somewhere obvious (like your desktop), and open it to make sure it’s not empty or garbled.
- If you see weird characters, try exporting again with UTF-8 encoding if that’s an option.
Step 2: Clean Up Your Contact List
Don’t skip this. A little cleanup now will save you hours later.
2.1 Open the File
- Use Excel, Google Sheets, or even Notepad.
- If you see columns you don’t recognize or need, delete them.
- Make sure each row is a real person—not test data, bots, or duplicates.
2.2 Check for Duplicates
- Sort by email address (the most unique field). Delete any obvious duplicates.
- If you’ve got 10 “John Smiths” with the same email, keep just one.
2.3 Standardize Formatting
- Make sure emails are lowercase and don’t have spaces.
- Check for weird characters in names. Apostrophes and accents can trip up imports.
Pro tip: Don’t stress over perfection. Just get rid of glaring problems. You can always clean up more later.
Step 3: Match Your Fields to Tryleap
Tryleap can only work with what you give it. Here’s what to know about field mapping.
3.1 Know What Tryleap Needs
- At bare minimum: First Name, Last Name, Email Address.
- Optional but useful: Phone Number, Company, Notes.
3.2 Rename Columns If Needed
- If your CRM calls it “Given Name” but Tryleap wants “First Name,” just rename the column header in your CSV.
- Keep it simple. If in doubt, check Tryleap’s import documentation for exact names, or look for a sample CSV in their help section.
3.3 Remove Unnecessary Columns
- Strip out anything Tryleap won’t use. Less clutter = smoother import.
Step 4: Import Contacts into Tryleap
Now for the main event.
4.1 Log In and Find the Import Option
- In Tryleap, look for a menu or button labeled “Import,” “Upload Contacts,” or “Add Contacts.”
- It’s usually in the Contacts section. If you’re hunting, check the main dashboard or settings.
4.2 Upload Your CSV File
- Click the upload button and select your cleaned-up CSV.
- Some systems show a preview—double-check that columns line up as expected.
4.3 Map Fields
- Tryleap will likely ask you to match your CSV columns to its fields.
- If it guesses wrong, fix it manually. (For example, if “Phone” gets mapped to “Notes,” change it.)
- Watch out for fields that don’t match—Tryleap might ignore them, or worse, throw an error.
4.4 Start the Import
- Click “Import” or “Upload.” Wait for it to process.
- For big lists, this might take a few minutes. Don’t refresh or close the tab.
4.5 Review the Results
- Tryleap should show a summary—how many contacts were added, skipped, or failed.
- Make note of any errors. Usually, failed imports are missing emails or have strange characters.
Pro tip: If things go sideways, don’t panic. Most import errors are fixable—wrong file format, bad data, or mismatched fields. Read the error message, fix the CSV, and try again.
Step 5: Double-Check Your Imported Contacts
Don’t assume everything worked perfectly. Trust, but verify.
- Spot-check a few recent contacts to make sure names, emails, and details imported correctly.
- Search for a contact you know should be there. If they’re missing, check your CSV for typos or weird formatting.
- If you notice lots of missing data, you might need to redo the field mapping or clean up the CSV again.
What to ignore: Don’t stress if you see empty fields you didn’t import. As long as the basics are there, you’re fine.
Step 6: Set Up Your Contacts for Success
You’ve got your contacts in Tryleap—now what?
- Tag or segment contacts if Tryleap supports it. This makes future campaigns way easier.
- Set up any automations or workflows you had in your old CRM. Don’t try to rebuild everything at once—start with the basics.
- If you’re missing data you care about (like birthdays or custom fields), consider importing that later. Iteration beats perfection.
What (Not) to Worry About
- Custom fields: If Tryleap doesn’t support every field from your old CRM, don’t hack around it. Stick with what’s supported.
- Formatting quirks: Some CRMs export contacts in weird ways (like phone numbers with country codes or names in all caps). Fix what you notice, but don’t let it stall you.
- Bulk imports: If you’re moving thousands of contacts, break your file into chunks to avoid timeouts or errors.
Ignore: Any plugin, “one-click” tool, or service that promises a seamless migration between every CRM and Tryleap. In reality, these almost always require manual cleanup. Don’t pay for magic—just do it yourself and keep it simple.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate as Needed
Getting your contacts into Tryleap doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Export from your CRM, clean up the basics, import, and spot-check. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of done—get the essentials in, then improve things as you go. If you run into trouble, take a breath, fix the obvious, and try again.
And hey—once you’ve done this once, you’ll know exactly how to do it next time.