Import net new contacts

[Yash]

I have received a list from our events team that has the information about the leads that attended our event. I was asked to import only net new contacts from that spreadsheet meaning just importing the contacts that does not already exist in our system. Is there any automated way to do this?

[Jay_Jiang · Accepted solution]

To ensure fields aren't overwritten on existing records, you can block field updates for all fields found in the import list - this is the easiest way.

If you can't or don't want to change block field update settings then unfortunately it's going to be some form of export, matching and removing existing leads and then importing the remainder.

If you have a smallish database, just export all (keep the columns to just email address if you want) and do a vlookup against your import list for existing email addresses, remove those and then import the remainder.

If you have a larger database, create a static list, do a fast import to skip new people and updates - this will give tell you whom in your import list already exist in the database. Export the static list you just imported, do a vlookup against your import list for existing email addresses, remove those and then import the remainder.

[Darshil_Shah1]

@Jay_Jiang, our responses just crossed! 🙂

[Yash]

Thanks @Jay_Jiang & @Darshil_Shah1! 

[Darshil_Shah1]

You can create a smart list with the "Email Address" filter use "is" operator and copy and paste the email addresses from your list import csv file into the filter. Check the qualified people in the SL, this should provide you with the list of people that are on your import list and are also present in the lead database. From there, you can export this list (exporting just the email address column would be comparatively faster) and can remove the leads already in Marketo from the csv import file using excel's Vlookup. Hope this helps.

[Jay_Jiang]

Good suggestion but please note there is a limitation that may or may not apply. Filtering will only let you filter roughly 1000 email addresses at a time.

[Darshil_Shah1]

Good point @Jay_Jiang, thank you! Usually would limit it 1500 - 2000 values. To be on the safer side, you may limit it to 1500 values and add the next set of email values with an OR condition in the SL. 🙂