The Problem

Why Getting Your Data Import Right Matters

Switching CRM platforms is only as successful as the data you bring into it. Many businesses lose critical customer records, mismap fields, or corrupt historical data during migration — setting their teams back before they even start.

Unsupported Export Formats

Exporting in proprietary formats that Salesboom cannot read causes the upload to fail immediately — forcing a complete re-export before the migration can even begin.

Wrong CSV Column Mapping

Mapping the wrong CSV columns to CRM fields creates data chaos — phone numbers in email fields, names in address fields — requiring hours of manual cleanup after import.

Mixed Data Types in One File

Importing contacts and leads in the same CSV file breaks the import process. Salesboom requires one data type per file — mixing them corrupts both datasets.

Lost Historical Records

Field name misalignment between old and new systems means historical data doesn't map correctly — and critical account history, past interactions, and notes disappear permanently.

Forced Manual Re-Entry

When imports fail or produce garbage data, teams are forced to manually re-enter thousands of records — exactly the time-consuming work a CRM migration is supposed to eliminate.

Duplicate Records After Import

Importing without checking for existing records creates duplicates that pollute your CRM from day one — leading to confused sales reps and inaccurate reporting from the start.

Preparation

Preparing Your Data for a Smooth Salesboom Import

Before you open the Import Wizard, a few minutes of preparation will save hours of cleanup afterward. The key is to understand both your existing data structure and Salesboom's data fields so you can plan a clean mapping between the two.

Start by familiarizing yourself with the data fields currently used in your existing CRM or contact management system. Understanding what you have is essential before deciding what to bring into Salesboom.

Identify all the fields you are currently tracking (name, email, phone, company, notes)
Decide which fields are essential to migrate vs. which can be left behind
Note any custom fields that may not have a direct Salesboom equivalent
Confirm your data is clean and deduplicated before exporting

Export your data as a CSV file from your current software, then open it to review how your data is organized before attempting the import.

In Notepad: each field is separated by a comma; each line is one record
In Excel: each field appears in its own cell; each row is one record
Review a sample of lines to understand how your previous system structured data
Confirm the first row contains column headers — not data values
Remove any blank rows at the top of the file before importing

Familiarize yourself with the data fields available inside Salesboom, then plan which CSV column corresponds to which Salesboom field before you open the Import Wizard.

Match your CSV column headers to their Salesboom equivalents on paper first
Rename CSV column headers to match Salesboom field names for intuitive mapping
Identify any columns without a Salesboom equivalent — these can be skipped during import
Confirm email, phone, and address fields map to the correct Salesboom field types

Create a test CSV file with 10–20 rows and run it through the Import Wizard before committing to the full import. This verifies your mapping is correct and your data appears as expected.

Copy 10–20 representative rows from your full CSV into a test file
Run the complete import process on the test file
Check that records appear correctly in the correct Salesboom fields
Save your mapping configuration immediately after a successful test import
Delete the test records if needed before running the full import

Step-by-Step

Using the Salesboom Import Wizard: Step-by-Step

Salesboom's Import Wizard walks you through the entire data import process in six straightforward steps. Follow the sequence below exactly to ensure a successful import.

1

Select Your Data Type Tab

Navigate to the tab page matching the type of data you are importing: Accounts, Contacts, or Leads. Each tab includes a Tools section — click the Import link inside it (e.g., "Import Accounts") to launch the Import Wizard.

2

Upload Your CSV File

In Step 1 of the Import Wizard, click the Browse button to locate and select your CSV file. The file can be stored on your local computer or on another computer within your local network. Once selected, click Continue to proceed.

3

Apply a Saved Column Assignment

If you have previously completed an import and saved your field mapping settings, you can select that saved Column Assignment here to skip manual remapping. This is a significant time-saver for recurring imports using the same data structure.

Optional step — skip to Step 4 if this is your first import.

4

Map Your CSV Fields

Step 2 of the Import Wizard lists all available Salesboom data fields, each with a drop-down box. Use the drop-downs to select which column from your CSV file corresponds to each Salesboom field. Drop-down values are drawn from the first row of your CSV and also identified by column number (Column1, Column2, etc.).

You only need to map the fields you want to import — unmapped fields can be completed manually later.

5

Save Your Mapping Settings

Use the Save Settings As text box to give this mapping a name (e.g., "Accounts Import – Outlook Format"). Saving your settings means future imports using the same CSV structure can skip the mapping step entirely, saving significant time on recurring imports.

6

Complete the Import

Click Continue. An information confirmation box will appear — read it and click OK to begin the import. Salesboom processes each line of your CSV as a new record. You will be assigned as the owner of every imported item. Your saved mapping settings are also stored at this point.

CSV Requirements

CSV File Structure and Import Limits You Need to Know

Salesboom's import system is compatible with any application that can export data in CSV format — including Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, and Palm devices. Understanding these requirements is essential for a clean, error-free import.

Data Type	Import Limit Per CSV File	User Access
Accounts	2,000 records	All users
Contacts	2,000 records	All users
Leads	2,000 records	All users

One Data Type Per CSV File

Each CSV file must contain only ONE data type. Do not mix Contacts and Leads, or Accounts and Contacts, in the same file. Mixing data types causes the import to fail or produce incorrect records that require manual cleanup.

Each Line Is One Record

Each line in your CSV file is treated as exactly one record. A 500-line CSV (excluding the header) creates 500 new Salesboom records. There is no support for multi-line records — each record must be complete on a single line.

Imports Create New Records Only

Every imported line is created as a brand-new CRM entry. The import process does not automatically detect or merge duplicate records. Review your CSV and remove records that already exist in Salesboom before running the import.

Only Export the Fields You Need

Not all Salesboom fields need to be in your CSV — only export the fields you want to populate. Salesboom fields left unmapped remain empty and can be filled in manually after the import is complete.

Imported Records Are Assigned to You

All records imported through the Import Wizard are automatically assigned to the user who ran the import. If records need to be reassigned to other team members, this can be done after import using Salesboom's record management tools.

Valid CSV Line Format Example

A properly structured CSV row for contacts follows this pattern — each field separated by a comma on a single line:

First name, Last name, Account, Business Phone, Home Phone,
                                        Cell Phone, Email

Split Large Datasets Into Batches

If your dataset exceeds 2,000 records, split the CSV into multiple files and run the import in batches. Your saved column assignment makes each subsequent batch import as fast as the first — just upload and confirm.

Reusable Saved Mapping Configurations

After completing your field mapping in Step 2, use the Save Settings As box to name and save the configuration. For recurring imports using the same CSV format, select the saved Column Assignment in Step 3 to skip manual remapping entirely.

Compatible with All Major Export Sources

Salesboom's import system accepts CSV files generated from Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Palm devices, and any other application capable of exporting comma-separated data. If your tool exports CSV, Salesboom imports it.

Field Mapping

Mapping Your CSV Data Fields Correctly

Accurate field mapping is the most important step in ensuring your data lands in the right place inside Salesboom. A mapping error at this stage can scatter data across incorrect fields — making cleanup far more difficult than a re-import.

Rename Headers Before Importing

Rename your CSV column headers to match Salesboom field names before importing. This makes the drop-down mapping in Step 2 intuitive and minimizes errors — headers like "First Name" map directly to the right Salesboom field.

Double-Check Phone and Email Fields

Phone number fields, email fields, and address fields are the most commonly mismapped. Double-check that Business Phone, Home Phone, Cell Phone, and Email map to their correct Salesboom equivalents — not to each other.

Test with 10–20 Rows First

For large imports, test with a small 10–20 record CSV file to verify mapping accuracy before running the full dataset. Catching a mapping error on 15 records is trivial. Catching it on 1,500 records is a significant cleanup problem.

Save Configuration After First Import

Save your mapping configuration immediately after your first successful import. Named configurations like "Outlook Contacts – Q1 2025" are reusable for all future imports with the same CSV format — saving substantial time on recurring migrations.

Use Column Numbers as Fallback

If your CSV doesn't have clear headers, each column is also identified by position — Column1, Column2, Column3, etc. Use these positional identifiers in the drop-down menus to map fields when header names are unclear or missing.

Leave Non-Essential Fields Unmapped

You don't have to map every field. Leave Salesboom fields without a CSV equivalent unmapped — they'll remain empty and can be populated manually after import. Focus on getting the critical fields (name, email, phone, company) mapped correctly first.

Check for Duplicates Before Importing

Salesboom creates a new record for every line — it does not deduplicate automatically. Before running your import, filter your CSV to remove any records already present in your Salesboom organization to avoid cluttering your CRM with duplicates.

Contact Support for Complex Migrations

Salesboom's People-as-a-Service support team is available 24/7. For complex migrations — large datasets, unusual field structures, or bulk imports from legacy CRMs — our specialists can guide you through the process live.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Salesboom Data Import

Common questions from Salesboom users about CSV formats, import limits, field mapping, duplicates, and record ownership.

Salesboom accepts CSV (comma-separated values) files. You can generate a CSV export from virtually any CRM or data management tool, including Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, and Palm devices. Make sure each file contains only one data type (Accounts, Contacts, or Leads) before importing.

Each CSV file supports up to 2,000 records per import. This limit applies equally to Accounts, Contacts, and Leads. If your dataset exceeds 2,000 records, split the CSV into multiple files and run the import in batches. Your saved column assignment makes each subsequent batch as fast as the first.

No. You only need to include the data fields you want to import. Salesboom's Import Wizard allows you to map any CSV column to any available Salesboom field, and any Salesboom fields left unmapped can be filled in manually at a later time.

Yes. After completing your field mapping in Step 2 of the Import Wizard, use the Save Settings As box to name and save your mapping configuration. The next time you import data using the same CSV format, simply select your saved Column Assignment in Step 3 to skip the manual mapping step entirely.

Each line in your CSV file is treated as a new record. The import process does not automatically detect or merge duplicates. To avoid creating duplicate accounts, contacts, or leads, review your CSV file and remove any records that already exist in your Salesboom organization before importing.

All records imported through the Import Wizard are automatically assigned to the user who ran the import. If you need to reassign imported records to other team members, you can do so after the import is complete using Salesboom's record management tools.

Absolutely — and it is strongly recommended. Create a test CSV file with 10–20 rows and run it through the Import Wizard first. This lets you verify that your field mapping is correct and your data appears as expected before committing to a full-scale import.

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Get Started

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Start your Salesboom data import today using the built-in Import Wizard — no technical expertise needed. Book a guided onboarding session and our team will walk you through your first import, live.

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Salesboom Data Import: Migrate Your CRM Records the Right Way