Import and update Contact list after massaging contact database on Excel

[zhikai93]

Hi, I exported my contact list to XLS file in order to update and remove duplicate contacts and fake email addresses.

Now I want to import the updated XLS file into Hubspot. How do I go about this?
1. Do I just import the file into Hubspot and the system will handle the rest of the import?
2. Or do I need to remove ALL contacts first then import the XLS file into Hubspot?

Thank you all!

[karstenkoehler · Accepted solution]

Hi @zhikai93,

HubSpot imports cannot remove records, they will only create new records and update records. By importing, you wouldn't be able to delete records.

That means that you would have to import your list and make sure that after the import, you can easily identify the records you'd like to delete, e.g. by adding an additional column "Delete contact" in your sheet and mapping that to a custom single checkbox property during imports. For contacts you'd like to delete, you would fill the column with the value "Yes" in your sheet so that you can then, after the import, filter these contacts and delete them.

For all contacts in the import file, HubSpot will update the record based on its email address – unless you specifically map the Record ID during the import process. (All HubSpot exports should contain this Record ID.) HubSpot will then update the record based on the Record ID and potentially also change the email address accordingly.

Let me know if you have any follow-up questions!

[CC-Oliver]

Hi all,

Just to confirm - the route that @karstenkoehler has suggested is the best way to go - this is something that I have personally actioned in the past without an issue. 🙂