Bulk Upload Leads
Bulk Uploading Leads
Summary: Import multiple leads at once using CSV files to quickly populate your sales pipeline in growlio.
Overview
Bulk upload saves hours when you need to add dozens or hundreds of leads to growlio. Whether you're migrating from another system, importing trade show contacts, or adding data from a marketing campaign, the bulk upload feature handles large volumes efficiently. This guide shows you how to prepare your data and complete a successful bulk import.
Prerequisites
- Active growlio account
- Lead data in spreadsheet format (Excel, Google Sheets, or CSV)
- Member-level permissions or higher
- Understanding of lead data fields in growlio
How to Bulk Upload Leads
Step 1: Navigate to Leads Section
Go to Business > Leads from the main navigation. This displays your current leads list and provides access to the import functionality.
Step 2: Click Import Button
Find and click the "Import" button in the top-right corner of the leads page. This opens the bulk upload modal with instructions and options.
Tip: Download the CSV template first if this is your first bulk upload. It shows the exact format growlio expects.
Step 3: Download CSV Template
Click "Download Template" to get a sample CSV file with the correct column headers. Open this template to see which fields are available for import.
Step 4: Prepare Your Data
Open your existing lead data and the template side by side. Copy your data into the template format, ensuring column headers match exactly. Required fields include: name, email, and status.
Tip: Clean your data before importing. Remove duplicates, fix formatting issues, and ensure email addresses are valid.
Step 5: Save as CSV File
Save your prepared data as a CSV file. Use "Save As" and select "CSV (Comma delimited)" as the file type. Give it a descriptive name like "leads_import_2025-01.csv".
Step 6: Upload CSV File
Back in growlio, click "Choose File" or drag your CSV file into the upload area. growlio validates the file format and displays a preview of the data it will import.
Step 7: Review Import Preview
Check the preview table showing how your data will be imported. Verify that columns mapped correctly and data appears in the right fields. Fix any issues before proceeding.
Tip: Pay special attention to status field mapping. Ensure statuses match growlio's options: new, contacted, qualified, proposal, negotiation, won, or lost.
Step 8: Configure Import Options
Set preferences for handling duplicates (skip, update, or create new records) and choose whether to send notification emails about new leads. Configure based on your needs.
Step 9: Start Import
Click "Start Import" to begin the upload process. growlio processes leads in batches, showing progress with a percentage indicator and count of completed records.
Step 10: Review Import Results
After completion, growlio displays a summary showing how many leads were successfully imported, how many failed, and reasons for any failures. Download the error report if needed.
Tips & Best Practices
- Always download and use the official CSV template for best results
- Test with a small file (10-20 records) before importing thousands
- Clean data thoroughly before import to avoid errors
- Back up existing leads before bulk importing
- Use consistent formatting (dates, phone numbers, etc.)
- Remove header rows beyond the first row
- Ensure email addresses are unique to avoid duplicates
- Map source fields accurately to track lead origins
- Import in batches of 500-1000 for optimal performance
- Review import results immediately and fix errors before continuing
Troubleshooting
Issue: Import fails with "Invalid file format"
Solution: Ensure file is saved as CSV, not Excel (.xlsx). Open the file in a text editor to verify it's comma-delimited. Remove any special characters that might cause parsing errors.
Issue: Many leads failed to import
Solution: Download the error report to see specific failure reasons. Common issues include missing required fields (name, email), invalid email formats, or incorrect status values. Fix errors in your source file and re-import.
Issue: Duplicate leads created
Solution: Use the duplicate handling option to "Skip" or "Update" instead of "Create New". Ensure your CSV doesn't contain internal duplicates. Consider using bulk delete to remove duplicates, then re-import with correct settings.
Issue: Import stuck at processing
Solution: Large imports (5000+ records) take several minutes. Don't close the browser tab. If truly stuck after 10 minutes, refresh and check if leads were partially imported. Contact support for very large imports.
Issue: Some fields didn't import
Solution: Verify column headers in your CSV exactly match the template. Field names are case-sensitive. Optional fields left blank will be empty - fill them in later if needed.