So you’ve got a pile of contacts—maybe they’re scattered across spreadsheets, maybe you exported them from five different tools, or maybe you just got handed the world’s messiest CSV. Either way, you want to get them into Postdrips without making a bigger mess, and you want to make sure you’re not spamming dead emails or sending duplicates. This guide is for you.
Let’s walk through the real process—step by step—so you can get your contacts imported, cleaned up, and ready to go. No fluff, no skipped steps, and no, you don’t need to be a data wizard.
The Big Picture: What This Actually Involves
Before we get into the weeds, here’s what you’re actually doing:
- Prepping your contact list (making sure it’s not a garbage fire)
- Importing into Postdrips
- Cleaning up duplicates, bad emails, and junk
- Tagging or segmenting contacts (if you care)
- Sanity-checking before you hit “send”
If you try to skip the prep or the cleanup, you’re just kicking the can down the road. Yes, it takes a bit longer up front, but it saves you hours of headaches later.
Step 1: Prep Your Contact List Before Importing
1.1. Gather Everything in One Place
If your contacts are scattered, combine them into a single spreadsheet (Excel, Google Sheets, or even a CSV file). You want one “master” list.
Columns you’ll want: - First Name - Last Name - Email Address (absolutely required) - Company (optional) - Any tags or custom fields you plan to use
Pro tip: If you’re importing from multiple sources, add a “Source” column so you know where each contact came from. It’ll help later.
1.2. Clean Up Obvious Junk
Before you upload anything, scan for: - Missing email addresses (delete these rows) - Obvious typos in emails (look for “.con” instead of “.com”) - Duplicates (sort by email and manually scan for repeats)
What to ignore: Don’t bother perfecting every field—focus on the email column. You can always fill in missing info later.
1.3. Save as CSV
Postdrips accepts CSV files. If you’re using Excel or Google Sheets, just “Download as CSV.” Avoid fancy formats like XLSX or Google Sheets links—these will just fail to import.
Step 2: Import Contacts Into Postdrips
2.1. Log In and Find the Import Feature
Once you’re logged in to Postdrips, look for something like “Contacts,” “People,” or “Audience” in the sidebar. There should be an “Import” or “Add Contacts” button. If you don’t see it, you might not have permissions—check with whoever owns the account.
2.2. Upload Your CSV
- Click “Import”
- Select your CSV file
- Wait for the upload to finish
Don’t panic if it takes a minute for large files. If it fails immediately, double-check that your file is a real CSV (not Excel or some web page you saved).
2.3. Map Your Fields
Postdrips will ask you to match your columns to its system fields. This part matters:
- Make sure “Email” is matched correctly—don’t let it get mapped to “First Name” by accident.
- If you have custom fields (like “Source”), map them to custom fields in Postdrips, or skip them if you don’t need them.
Watch out: Some tools auto-map fields with the same name, but always check. A small mismatch here can ruin your import.
Step 3: Clean Up (Inside Postdrips)
3.1. De-duplication
Postdrips will usually catch and merge exact duplicates (same email address). If it doesn’t, use the built-in “Merge Duplicates” or “Remove Duplicates” tool—most modern platforms have one buried in the contacts section.
- If you have a lot of near-duplicates (like bob@company.com and bob.smith@company.com), you’ll need to do some manual cleanup. No tool is perfect here.
3.2. Remove Bounced or Bad Emails
If you’ve imported a lot of old contacts, some emails will be dead. Postdrips might not catch these right away.
- Option 1: Use Postdrips’ built-in email validation (if it exists; not all plans have this).
- Option 2: Export your contacts from Postdrips, run them through an email validation service (like NeverBounce or ZeroBounce), and re-import the cleaned list.
- Option 3: Just accept some bounces and move on if your list isn’t that old or big.
Honest take: Most people skip validation, and then wonder why their open rates tank. If deliverability matters, take the extra step. Otherwise, you’ll just learn the hard way.
3.3. Fill in Missing Data (If You Care)
Now’s the time to add missing details if you want to segment or personalize later. You can do this in bulk using Postdrips’ bulk edit features, or just ignore it for now.
Step 4: Segment and Tag Contacts
Not everyone does this, but it’s worth thinking about.
- Segments let you group contacts (e.g., “Customers,” “Leads,” “Cold list”).
- Tags are quick labels you can filter on (e.g., “2024 Import,” “Conference Attendee”).
How to do it: - Use Postdrips’ bulk select and tag/segment tools. - You can often bulk tag during import, especially if you included a “Tag” or “Source” column.
Don’t overthink it: If you only have a few hundred contacts, you can always tag later. For thousands, it’s worth getting right now.
Step 5: Sanity Check Before Sending Anything
This is where most people mess up—don’t skip it.
- Spot-check 10-20 random contacts to make sure emails look right.
- Try a test campaign to yourself or a test group first.
- Double-check unsubscribe and compliance settings; Postdrips has tools for this, but you’re responsible for not annoying people.
What to ignore: Don’t obsess over every contact. If your sample looks good, you’re probably fine.
Step 6: Regular Maintenance (Optional, But Smart)
You don’t have to do this every week, but set a reminder once a quarter:
- Re-run email validation if your list is growing fast.
- Remove bounced or unsubscribed contacts.
- Add new tags or segments as your needs change.
Reality check: Most people never maintain their lists, and it always comes back to bite them. A little upkeep now is better than a deliverability crisis later.
Honest FAQs and Pitfalls
Do I need to clean my list every time?
If it’s a new export or you haven’t touched it in months, yes. For regular weekly imports, you can probably get away with lighter checking.
What if my import fails?
It’s almost always because of a bad CSV (wrong format, weird characters, missing headers) or a file that’s too large. Fix those and try again.
Are built-in deduplication and validation enough?
They’re a good start, but not perfect. Especially with older or “dirty” lists, outside validation tools are safer.
Can I automate any of this?
If you’re technical, sure—APIs or Zapier can automate imports. But manual review is still smart before blasting emails to thousands.
Keep It Simple: Final Thoughts
Importing and cleaning contacts in Postdrips isn’t rocket science, but it does pay to be methodical. Don’t get lost in perfectionism, and don’t skip the basics. Keep your master file clean, sanity-check before sending, and iterate as you go. The best contact list is the one you actually use—so get started, keep it tidy, and move on to the stuff that actually grows your business.