Setting up your HubSpot portal involves several crucial steps, one of which is importing your client database. This blog post, part of my comprehensive HubSpot setup guide, will help you understand how to import your customer data smoothly, ensuring the transfer of 100% of your information. By the end of this post, you'll know how to avoid common pitfalls and successfully import your client database into HubSpot.
Importing your client database into HubSpot can seem straightforward, but it's common to encounter issues such as missing contacts, incomplete information, or failed imports. This guide will walk you through the best practices to ensure a successful import. Before diving in, it's essential to have a basic understanding of HubSpot's structure, including objects and properties. If you're not familiar with these concepts, I recommend reviewing the previous posts in this series.
You might have just created your HubSpot portal, set up your properties, and noticed the import button at the top right of your contact page. It seems like a quick and easy process, but you might find that the import doesn't go as planned. Missing contacts, lost information, or failed imports are common issues. Understanding why these issues occur is the first step in preventing them.
To begin importing your customer database, click the orange import button. You have two primary options:
Each synchronization is different depending on the tool you're migrating from, and it's best to follow the specific instructions provided by your previous CRM. However, the importation rules are generally the same. For this guide, I'll focus on importing a data file.
Select Import File from Computer:
Choosing Import Type:
Manage Your Import File:
Verification is crucial to prevent incomplete imports or failures. Each column in your file should correspond to a HubSpot property. If a property doesn't exist in HubSpot, create it before proceeding. For example, if you have a "Market" property to separate B2B and B2C clients, ensure this property exists in HubSpot and follows the correct rules.
Create Custom Properties:
Clean Your Import File:
Upload Your File:
Map Properties:
Mapping Example:
Verify Import Details:
Finalize Import:
Review Import Results:
To ensure a successful import:
Check Contacts:
Check Companies:
Importing your client database into HubSpot is a vital step in setting up your CRM. By following these best practices, you can ensure a smooth and successful import process, maintaining the integrity and completeness of your data. Stay tuned for more detailed posts in my HubSpot setup guide, where we will explore other key aspects of leveraging HubSpot to its full potential. Implement these practices to enhance your CRM's efficiency and effectiveness.