In Stager you can easily import and export contacts. Importing can be useful if you have contacts in an excel spreadsheet that you want to add into Stager. If you need to export contacts to send to an external party or system, that is easily also possible in Stager.
Importing contact data into Stager
To import contacts, you will upload a CSV file in Stager, which Stager then reads and checks. After this, the information is entered into our CRM system A CSV file is also called a comma separated file and can be opened and created with a spreadsheet program such as Excel, Numbers, LibreOffice or Google Spreadsheets.
A CSV file has a fixed format that can be easily read by computers. Every place has a fixed value. It is important that you create the import file exactly like the example file.
Step 1: Download the sample CSV file
Your data must be delivered in a CSV file with a specific format. View the sample CSV that you can find on the Import page via Marketing - Contacts - Import.
Step 2: Put your data in the correct format and create the CSV file
Enter the contact details in the example file, or create your own CSV file. It is important that the column layout of your contacts file exactly matches the example file. This means, for example, that the last name must always be in the third column.
Make sure you meet the following requirements:
Leave the first row in the sample file. This row will not be imported.
The EmailAddress1 field is mandatory for all contacts.
Put Birth Date in the correct format: DD-MM-YYYY.
For country names, use the two-digit letter-codes (ISO) as described on this wiki.
When you save your file, use the "CSV UTF-8". The file is then called .csv.
When you use a different encoding, certain punctuation marks may not be imported properly. Find a how to here.
Step 3: Upload your file in Stager
Drag your file into the large white box on the contact import page.
Stager checks your CSV file and may notify you if there are errors regarding the correct format of data. When all data is OK, the Continue button appears.
Step 4: Check your data
You will see an example of the data you wanted to import. Make sure that all information is in the correct columns. Everything to your liking? Click 'import' at the bottom of the page.
Step 5: Import data
The import is now scheduled and Stager imports in the background. You can monitor the status on the import page.
Step 6: Process existing contacts
Stager checks during the import whether the email addresses of new contacts already exist in your Stager contacts as a primary email. When that is the case, these “duplicate” contacts are shown on the import page as 'overlap'. Click to view the duplicate contacts and then decide what to do with them. You have three options:
Add: Adds data from your imported contacts to your existing contacts in Stager.
Overwrite: Overwrites the existing contact’s data with that shown on the Import page.
Skip: Skips all duplications and overlaps, and only imports new contacts.
How do I find the imported contacts?
Under Marketing - Contacts - Import, you can see an overview of previous imports up to the past 3 months. When you click on the blue link with X imported / X total under the contacts column, you will get an overview of all contacts from that import. Here you can edit these contacts or select all of them and send them an email.
How to export contact information
In Stager you can export all your contacts; whether ticket buyers, employees or volunteers. This means you can quickly create overviews of different contact types such as board members, club pass holders, (bar) volunteers and event visitors. The possibilities are endless.
You can export all of your contacts via Marketing - Contacts - All Contacts. Select all contacts with the checkmark in the top left-hand corner, and then clicking the Select all button. You can then click the Export button, and export these contacts in an Excel or CSV file.
Similarly, you can you build a specific audience using the Stager audience builder via Marketing - Contacts - Audience - New audience. After building your audience, you can view the audience, click the Export button, and export these contacts in an Excel or CSV file.