Imported Contacts - Notes

[john-BeaconRI]

Hello - I've imported my contacts using an Excel spreadsheet with a column labeled notes.   However, the notes appear to not have been uploaded because when I click on the notes field, it says I don't have any notes yet.  How do I get the notes into HubSpot?

[MFrankJohnson · Accepted solution]

Q: Imported Contacts - Notes ???

Short A: n/a

Longer A:

You basically have two (2) options when importing 'notes' into HubSpot CRM ...

-1- Create a custom contact property and import your notes into that contact property.

This has serious drawbacks since the contents of contact properties are NOT DISPLAYED IN THE CONTACT TIMELINE, but are squished (a technical term) into the standard display for contact properties in the left panel. (not recommended)

Remember, in order to see notes imported in this fashion you must set that custom contact property to display in your contact records. (see image)

-2- Use a 3rd-party service to import your notes directly into the HubSpot contact timeline. (preferred method)

We've had great success using Import2 which is also now very reasonably priced.

UPDATE:

- see [Now Live] 5 Updates to Import You Don’t Want to Miss (1-Aug-2018)

- see [Now Live] Import, Deduplicate, and Search Objects Using Object ID (16-Aug-2018)

- see [HubSpot Connect] - Import2 Wizard Integration (26-Jul-2018)

[john-BeaconRI]

Thanks  @MFJLabs  Frank.  I would've thought that naming my notes column 'notes' would have uploaded into the notes field in HubSpot.  But I did find the notes thanks to your screen shots by selecting view all properties.

Any idea why my column labeled 'notes' doesn't go to the property named 'notes'?

[MFrankJohnson]

Wow. Really having trouble getting HCF messages. Sorry about that @john-BeaconRI

The HubSpot 'notes' section is NOT a contact property. That's why we can't import there directly. The best option currently is to use Import2 migration service.

[travislockhart1]

What? It seems like this should be standard fucntiality. When our Sales Team goest to a trade show they often capture notes on their contacts. When they return they should be able to see these notes on the related contact record (via the notes object) so that they can also see these updates on the contacts timeline. This is standard in Salesforce when you can just import the notes into a related notes and activity object which is related to the contact. I find it strange how much things are locked down in HubSpot... 

[MFrankJohnson]

I hear you @travislockhart1 ... you're preachin to the chior.

I'm speculating here, but it's possible that HubSpot intended for sales teams in the field to "capture notes on their contacts" directly into the interface. In an ideal world, doing so reduces the number of touches that must occur on the data and, from that standpoint, should be more efficient.

I know that HubSpot is working hard on updating import functionality, but no delivery date has been published. In the meantime, give Import2 a close look. We've worked with them a few times on large/complex imports and they're AWESOME.

[JanaBand]

Thank you @MFJLabs!

If you still haven't found a workaround for importing Notes and associate them with Contacts you can use self-service Import2 Wizard solution to do it, which is free for the files for up to 1,000 rows.

You’d simply select “Notes” as the type of data to import when uploading your CSV file and then associate it to Contact while configuring mappings.

Then the Note will be imported into normal Contact Timeline (versus custom field) indicating timestamp, owner of the Note and all possible further actions you can do with a Note (pin, delete, edit etc.)

[MFrankJohnson · Accepted solution]

Q: Can we import notes into HubSpot contact records?

Short A: Yes.

Longer A:

Beginning in December, the ability to import notes into HubSpot is now built-in fuctionality.

- see Everything You Need to Know About the New HubSpot Import

14-Dec-2018: HubSpot Import Notes

[vy]

Hi Thanks for all your info.

My question is, how to import mutiple notes of one contacts?

For example, i have a contact AMY, under this name, i made 2 notes:  July 18th 2020 / 200USD, Aug 20th 2020 100USD.

Should I make my excel sheet like this: 

"first name,  activity date, note body, activity date, note body" ??

Or I have to combie 2 notes into one? 

Thanks.