The best way is indeed to first create (or identify fitting) fields in HubSpot and then, as a second step, prepare the excel file with the correct column names before you import the file.
Depending on how your categories are set up, you might find existing fields in HubSpot already, e.g. if your categories are based on geographic location like ZIP codes. If your categories do not fit with any existing property in HubSpot, you can have a look at property types here. If the categories are mutually exclusive, I'd recommend a dropdown select. Let's say you categorize by favorite ice cream flavor of your contacts and there can only be one, you'd create a property call "favorite ice cream flavor" and add your categories, "chocolate chip", "salted caramel" etc. as dropdown select options.
Next, you want to make sure that your Excel file has a column, filled with the exact values that you've just created within HubSpot, one for each row/contact. If you name the column in your Excel file "favorite ice cream flavor", HubSpot will automatically recognize and match the column to the new property during the import. You can also label the colum "flavor" and would then have to manually map the column to the field during the import.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Karsten
Karsten Köhler HubSpot Freelancer | RevOps & CRM Consultant | Community Hall of Famer
The best way is indeed to first create (or identify fitting) fields in HubSpot and then, as a second step, prepare the excel file with the correct column names before you import the file.
Depending on how your categories are set up, you might find existing fields in HubSpot already, e.g. if your categories are based on geographic location like ZIP codes. If your categories do not fit with any existing property in HubSpot, you can have a look at property types here. If the categories are mutually exclusive, I'd recommend a dropdown select. Let's say you categorize by favorite ice cream flavor of your contacts and there can only be one, you'd create a property call "favorite ice cream flavor" and add your categories, "chocolate chip", "salted caramel" etc. as dropdown select options.
Next, you want to make sure that your Excel file has a column, filled with the exact values that you've just created within HubSpot, one for each row/contact. If you name the column in your Excel file "favorite ice cream flavor", HubSpot will automatically recognize and match the column to the new property during the import. You can also label the colum "flavor" and would then have to manually map the column to the field during the import.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Karsten
Karsten Köhler HubSpot Freelancer | RevOps & CRM Consultant | Community Hall of Famer