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Before you import

Any CSV with a header row works. A typical file looks like this: 
email,first_name,last_name,company,job_title
diego.ramirez@northwindsupply.com,Diego,Ramirez,Northwind Supply,VP of Marketing
priya.patel@brightlabs.co,Priya,Patel,Bright Labs,Demand Gen Manager
A few things that make imports smooth:
  • Every contact needs an email or phone number — rows without one can’t be created.
  • Column names don’t need to match Tented’s field names exactly; you’ll get a mapping step.
  • Columns can map to custom fields too — and you can even create new custom fields during the import.

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Step 1: Upload your file

Go to People > Add > Import from CSV and drag your file in (or click to browse). A screenshot of the Import CSV tab with a drag-and-drop area for the CSV file.

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Step 2: Map your columns

Tented reads your header row and auto-maps each CSV column to a contact field. For each column you can:
  • Change the target field — any standard or custom field
  • Choose the overwrite behavior — if a contact already exists (matched by email), decide whether the imported value should overwrite a field that’s already filled or leave it alone
A screenshot of the Configure Import screen showing CSV columns auto-mapped to Tented fields with per-column overwrite settings.
Imports update existing contacts rather than creating duplicates — a row whose email matches an existing contact updates that contact according to your overwrite settings.

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Step 3: Start the import

Click Start Import and watch rows process in real time. When it finishes you get a full report:
  • Created / Updated / Skipped / Failed counts, with a filterable row-by-row breakdown
  • A reason for every skipped or failed row
  • Export CSV to download the results for your records
A screenshot of a completed import showing 6 rows created and a row results table with statuses.

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Reviewing past imports

The Past Imports tab in the Add People dialog keeps a history of every import — handy when you’re trying to work out where a contact came from. Each contact’s Activities timeline also records “Person Created — Source: List Import.”

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What’s next?

Organize them into lists

Turn your imported contacts into targeted audiences.

Customize your fields

Add custom fields so your CSV columns have a proper home.