CSV Lead Import
Import Leads From a CSV File in Minutes
Move your leads out of spreadsheets, portals or an old CRM with a simple template, and see possible duplicates before your team starts calling.
The short answer
How do I import leads from a CSV file?
To import leads from CSV into AliveCRM, download the import template from the Leads page, paste your leads into it, save it as a CSV file and upload it. Each file can hold up to 2,000 leads. AliveCRM imports the rows, lists any that failed and flags possible duplicates.
Most teams start a CRM with leads already sitting somewhere else: an Excel sheet, a Google Sheet, a property portal export or an old CRM. Import lets you bring them in on day one instead of typing them one by one.
How It Works
From Spreadsheet to Pipeline
Four steps, usually done in a few minutes.
Template
One Template, Ten Columns
The template has ten columns in a fixed order: Name, Email, Phone, Project Name, Location, Lead Value, Assigned To, Status, Source and Last Contact. Name, Email and Phone are required on every row.
- Downloadable CSV template
- Fixed column order
- Name, Email and Phone required
Rahul Sharma
Example Technologies
Owners
Owners, Statuses and Sources on Import
Put a team member's email or full name under Assigned To and the lead is theirs from the start. Status sets the pipeline stage, and Source must match a source you already created. Rows with an unknown user or source are listed as failed so you can fix them.
- Assign owners in the file
- Set status and source
- Failed rows listed with a reason
Rahul Sharma
Example Technologies
Duplicates
Possible Duplicates Flagged, Not Lost
AliveCRM checks each row against your existing leads by email, ignoring case, and by the last ten digits of the phone number. Matches are still imported but marked as possible duplicates and listed on the results screen, so you decide what to keep.
- Email and phone matching
- Duplicates listed after import
- Nothing silently merged
Rahul Sharma
Example Technologies
Projects
Attach Leads to a Project
If the Project Name matches a project in your inventory, the lead is attached to it, ready for per-project reports and assignment. If it does not match, AliveCRM adds the name as a note on the lead so nothing is lost.
- Match by project name
- Unmatched names saved as notes
- Location saved on the lead
Rahul Sharma
Example Technologies
Before you import
How do I clean a lead list before importing?
- Remove blank rows and rows with no phone or email.
- Put phone numbers in one format, with or without the country code, but the same for every row.
- Check that Assigned To uses your team members' exact emails or full names.
- Create any missing sources in AliveCRM first, so the Source column matches.
- Split files larger than 2,000 rows into several files.
If your list is in Excel or Google Sheets, use Save As or Download and choose CSV.
Honest limits
What CSV Import Does Not Do
Import is built for getting started quickly, not for ongoing sync. It accepts CSV files only, not .xlsx, and has no column-mapping step, so your headers must match the template. Imported leads cannot be attached to products or services, only projects. There is no scheduled or automatic import from portals or other CRMs.
Bring Your Leads With You
Start a 7-day free trial, download the template and import your first list today.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Up to 2,000 rows per CSV file. A larger file is rejected, so split big lists into several files and import them one after another. Your plan's user and form limits still apply to the account as a whole.
Yes, by saving the sheet as CSV first. AliveCRM accepts CSV files only. In Excel use Save As and pick CSV; in Google Sheets use File, Download, CSV. Keep the template's column order.
They are imported and flagged as possible duplicates when the email or the last ten digits of the phone number match an existing lead. The results screen lists them so you can review them. Nothing is merged or deleted automatically.
Yes. Fill the Assigned To column with a team member's email or full name. If you leave it blank, the person importing becomes the owner. Unknown names make that row fail, and it is listed with the reason.
Yes. Export leads from Zoho CRM, HubSpot, Freshsales, LeadSquared or Salesforce as CSV, rearrange the columns to match the AliveCRM template and upload. Notes, emails and activity history do not carry over.