Fixing a .csv file after an error

At BombBomb, we can add a mass number of contacts to your account when you upload a .csv file. While most .csv files will seamlessly upload contacts into your BombBomb account, there are a few things that could cause your file to fail. We know this can be super frustrating!

Here are the steps to fix those issues. 

Step 1: Download the file.

If something goes wrong with your file when uploading, BombBomb will alert you with a red banner at the top of your screen. Click “Download Now," and open the file.

Step 2: Clean up your .csv file.

Remove any outliers in your contacts' information. These could be malformed columns, which can include special characters in front of email addresses (< > ; %), extra punctuation in columns, or multiple email addresses in the same column.

You’ll also want to remove any formatting, headers, or blank columns to make the file compatible with BombBomb.

Keep in mind, the most important columns you’ll want to include are each contact's email address, first name, and last name.

Step 3: Save your file in the correct format.

You need to save your file in Excel as a .csv file. Follow the steps to do so: 

• Select the "File" tab in the top left corner of Excel
• Choose the “Save As” option
• Click “Browse” to choose a spot to store the file and give it a name
• Click the drop down arrow next to “Save As Type”
• Select "CSV (Comma delimited)"

If you'd like some help with creating a .csv file from scratch, click here to download a .csv template!

Step 4: Make sure to select the correct contact list.

When importing your .csv file into your contact list, it’s important to make sure they are being uploaded into the correct contact list.

Once you click "Add People," a window will appear with uploading options. Click "Add to List" for a dropdown menu to select a specific list to upload the contacts into.

Once your contacts are loaded into a contact list, you may see differences in the number of contacts uploaded versus the number of contacts in your .csv file. this is because our system recognizes and removes duplicates and will not upload contacts without a valid email address.

After looking over your .csv file using the tips outlined above, try re-uploading it into your contacts. If your .csv file is clean, saved in the proper format, and uploaded to the intended list, you should be all set!