Use imports when you need to bring many people into Customer Hub at once. Use manual entry for one-off contacts and forms for ongoing lead capture.

What this guide helps you do

• Choose the right way to add one contact or many contacts.
• Map CSV fields into CRM fields cleanly.
• Review duplicates and list membership before the import affects follow-up.

Before you start

• Clean your source file so names, emails, phones, and company names are consistent.
• Know which list, owner, and lifecycle stage imported contacts should receive.
• Decide how to handle duplicates before applying the import.

Do it manually

1. Open Customers and choose People.
2. Use New person for a single contact or Import CSV for many contacts.
3. Map source columns to Customer Hub fields.
4. Assign list, owner, stage, or source labels when appropriate.
5. Review warnings for missing email, invalid values, or duplicates.
6. Apply the import and check a sample of records after it finishes.

Ask Faster AI

• Review this CSV import plan and tell me which columns should map to Customer Hub fields.
• Prepare an import for these contacts, add them to the Spring leads list, and show duplicate risks before applying.
• After import, create a saved view for new contacts missing phone numbers.

Review before saving or applying

• Do not import purchased or unpermissioned lists into marketing workflows.
• Check unsubscribe and consent expectations before sending messages.
• Review a sample of rows after import before starting broadcasts or journeys.

Common issues and fixes

• If rows fail, check required fields and field types.
• If many duplicates appear, stop and clean the source file before trying again.
• If imported contacts do not show in a view, check filters, owner, stage, and list assignment.

Example CRM setup article

For an example of testing a new CRM setup with a small group of real contacts before a full rollout, read the CRM-with-AI afternoon walkthrough. Setting Up a CRM with AI in an Afternoon.

Connected workflows

• Map form submissions to customer records
• Create a segment from customer behavior
• Use customer activity for follow-up
• Review Money activity for a customer

Placeholder media

• Screenshot placeholder: add an annotated screenshot of import or add contacts with customer names, emails, phone numbers, amounts, file names, and private notes blurred.
• Video placeholder: add a short walkthrough that starts in Customers, shows the manual path, then shows how to ask Faster AI and review the result before saving, sending, merging, or assigning work.

Related help

• Create a customer record
• Use saved customer views
• Find and merge duplicate records