Import Contacts into Wave

Wave can import contacts from a CSV file, from Phound, or from Mary Kay InTouch. This guide covers the common import workflow and the details for CSV and Phound imports. Mary Kay users should also review Import and Sync Mary Kay InTouch Contacts.

An import adds records to the active Wave persona. It does not automatically add every imported contact to a Blast or Campaign.

Before You Begin

Make sure:

• the correct Wave persona is active
• every contact is eligible to receive the messages you plan to send
• the source file or Phound address book contains current phone numbers
• you know which tags or custom fields you want to preserve
• you can identify the imported contacts afterward

Choose an Import Source

1. Open Contacts.
2. Select Import.
3. Choose one of the available sources:

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For InTouch-specific fields and automatic syncing, see Import and Sync Mary Kay InTouch Contacts.

Review the Import

Wave reviews the source before adding anything. The review window can show how many records are ready and whether any records contain invalid fields.

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Before selecting Import:

1. Confirm the count of contacts ready for import.
2. Review any invalid or skipped records. A skipped record is not added to Wave.
3. Confirm that the phone-number and name columns are mapped correctly.
4. Review each optional column. Choose Do not import when Wave should ignore a column.
5. Add a source tag, such as phound, when it will help with filtering and troubleshooting.
6. Remove any record that should not be included.

Do not use the ready count alone as approval to send. Import eligibility and messaging consent are separate checks.

Import from Phound

Use from Phound when the contacts already exist in the Phound persona connected to Wave.

1. Open Contacts and select Import.
2. Select from Phound.
3. Review the ready and invalid counts.
4. Confirm the available field mappings.
5. Keep or change the additional phound source tag.
6. Remove any record that should not be copied.
7. Select Import only after the review is complete.

If the list does not contain the contacts you expect, cancel the import and confirm the active persona before trying again.

Import from a CSV File

Prepare a clean CSV with one contact per row. Include a phone-number column and use a consistent heading for each field.

A practical file might include:

During the import:

1. Match the CSV phone-number column to the Wave phone-number field.
2. Match names and any other columns you need.
3. Set unused columns to Do not import.
4. Review invalid records before continuing.
5. Apply a source tag that identifies the file or process when useful.

Do not import purchased lists or contacts who are not eligible to receive your messages.

Verify the Result

1. Search for several imported contacts.
2. Open them and verify their phone number, name, tags, and custom fields.
3. Use Filter to confirm the source tag works as expected.
4. Compare the imported count with the expected source count.
5. Add the appropriate tags or place the contacts in a collection.
6. Review the final audience count before using it in a Blast or Campaign.

If the Import Does Not Look Correct

• Contacts are missing: Check the invalid count and confirm the active persona.
• Names or fields are wrong: Cancel before importing and correct the column mapping.
• The same person appears more than once: Review the source data and existing Wave contacts before messaging.
• You cannot find the new contacts: Filter by the additional source tag used during import.
• The import source is not available: Confirm that the required account connection and persona are active.

Continue with Contacts, Collections, and Dynamic Audiences.