Importing your spreadsheet file with contacts into zkipster Audience is simple and efficient when your spreadsheet is properly formatted. This article walks you through everything you need to know to get your spreadsheet data ready for upload.
✅ Step 1: Download the Spreadsheet Template
To seamlessly upload your contacts to Audience via spreadsheet, start by downloading the zkipster spreadsheet template:
Go to the Contacts tab in your zkipster Audience account.
Click the orange Add Contact button.
Select Import from File.
On the import screen, click either Download CSV or Download Excel.
These templates are formatted with the correct column headers and existing custom fields headers (if applicable), saving you time and avoiding formatting errors.
📋 Step 2: Understand the Template Structure
1. Header Row
The first row of your spreadsheet must contain column headers.
These column headers must match the field names used in zkipster. The template already includes columns for the different default fields, such as:
External ID
First Name
Last Name
Suffix
Salutation
Email
Phone Number
Company
And more.
If you have already created custom fields, they will also be available as a column in the template you download, but you can also add custom field columns to the spreadsheet as you wish.
Please Note❗: Do not modify the column headers if you're using the template. The headers already follow the formatting necessary for the matching between columns and fields to happen automatically. You will have the chance to manually match them though if necessary.
2. Filling in Guest Data
Fill in your guest details under each appropriate column. For example:
external_id__value | first_name__value | last_name__value | email__value |
12345 | John | Smith |
3. Clear Spreadsheet from Special Formatting
Special formatting on the spreadsheet, such as hyperlinks, formulas, tables and special characters, is not supported and may cause errors during the upload process.
To avoid this, ensure your contact spreadsheet is clear from any special formatting:
📏 Step 3: Follow Validation Guidelines
Each field has its own character limit and formatting requirements. Here's a quick overview of common field restrictions:
Column/Field | Restrictions and Formatting |
External ID | 80 Characters |
Salutation | 250 Characters |
First/Last Name | 250 Characters |
Suffix | 250 Characters |
Nickname | 250 Characters |
Organization | 250 Characters |
Job Title | 250 Characters |
320 Characters - format validation | |
Email Label | (30 Characters) - matches an existing option (case-insensitive) or automatically creates a new one if no match is found. Example: Personal Email |
Note | 500 Characters |
Address | 150 Characters |
City | 150 Characters |
State | 150 Characters |
Zip Code | 150 Characters |
Country | ISO 3166 Alpha-2 Code. Example: UK, US, FR, etc. |
Address Label | (30 Characters) - matches an existing option (case-insensitive) or automatically creates a new one if no match is found. Example: Work Address |
Phone | Maximum 12 digits - include country code. Example: +447700333222 |
Phone Label | (30 Characters) - matches an existing option (case-insensitive) or automatically creates a new one if no match is found. Example: Personal Mobile |
Social label | Include only one of the following per 'Social Label' column: Facebook, Flickr, Github, Instagram, Linkedin, Pinterest, Snapchat, Telegram, Threads, Tiktok, X, Vimeo, Website, Wechat, Youtube |
Social Value | 100 Characters |
Custom Text Box Field | 250 Characters |
Custom Text Area Field | 5048 Characters |
Custom Number Field | Format Validation |
Custom Single Choice Field | Matches an existing option (case-sensitive) |
Custom Multiple Choice Field | Matches an existing option (case-sensitive). For multiple options, separate them with a comma. Example: |
Custom Date Field | ISO 8601 Format: yyyy-mm-dd |
Custom URL Field | Format validation |
Relationships | Add the External ID of the related guest and between brackets add the relationship name. ExternalID[Relationship-Type]. Example: |
Tags | Maximum 30 characters followed by the colour of the tag in between brackets. Example: donor[PURPLE], VIP[RED] |
To make it easier for users, the list above can also be found as a separate sheet named 'Validation Guideline' on the spreadsheet template file. This helps ensure your data complies with zkipster’s input requirements.
📤 Step 4: Upload and Match Fields
Click Import Spreadsheet File.
zkipster will attempt to automatically match your spreadsheet columns with the default Audience fields.
✅ Default contact fields (like First Name, Last Name) are typically matched automatically if using the template and the column headers match the fields' names.
⚠️ Custom fields or columns that do not match automatically must be matched manually:
Use the dropdown menu next to each unmatched column to assign the correct contact field.
Once all columns are matched correctly, click Import Contacts to complete the process.
Learn more: How to Add Contacts to Audience via Spreadsheet Import
🔁 Recap: Tips for a Smooth Import
Always use zkipster’s provided template for best results.
Row number 1 must include the column headers.
Enter data under the correct fields, including any custom fields.
Review character limits and validation rules before importing.
Match unmatched custom fields during the import process.
For further assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team via support@zkipster.com or check out additional guides in the zkipster Help Center.