# CRM People import starter CSV > Download a ready-made CSV with the right column names, fill in your contacts and import them into CRM People with a safe test run first. Canonical: https://help.spacebrain.ai/examples/crm-import-starter/ Last modified: 2026-09-25T00:00:00.000Z This spreadsheet has the column names Spacebrain expects for people (your contacts). Fill it in, import a few rows as a test, then import the rest. It's for anyone adding contacts for the first time, or tidying an export from another tool before importing it. [Download `crm-people-import-starter.csv`](/downloads/crm-people-import-starter.csv) ```csv first_name,last_name,email,phone,title,department,company_name,linkedin_url,address,city,state,country,postal_code,notes Test,Contact,test.contact@example.com,+12025550123,Operations Manager,Operations,Example Company,https://www.linkedin.com/in/example,123 Example Street,Vancouver,BC,Canada,V6B 1A1,INTERNAL TEST - delete after verification ``` ## Before you begin [#before-you-begin] * **Role:** **Editor** or higher in the workspace you're importing into. * **The right workspace:** check the name at the top of the left sidebar. * **A spreadsheet app** that can save as CSV (UTF-8), such as Excel, Google Sheets or Numbers. * **Permission to hold these contacts.** Importing an email address doesn't give you permission to email that person. ## What each column is for [#what-each-column-is-for] | Column | What to put in it | Example | | ---------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | `first_name`, `last_name` | The person's name | `Jordan`, `Lee` | | `email` | Their email address. **Include one for every row.** | `jordan@brightside.example` | | `phone` | Phone number, ideally with country code | `+447700900123` | | `title`, `department` | Their job title and team | `Practice Manager`, `Operations` | | `company_name` | The business they work for | `Brightside Dental` | | `linkedin_url` | Their LinkedIn profile link | `https://www.linkedin.com/in/…` | | `address`, `city`, `state`, `country`, `postal_code` | Their address | `12 High St`, `Leeds`, …, `LS1 4AB` | | `notes` | Anything else worth knowing | `Met at trade show, May` | Delete any columns you don't need. Keep the first row as column names, one person per row, and don't merge cells. ## Fill it in [#fill-it-in] 1. Download the file and open it in your spreadsheet app. 2. Replace the sample row with your own details first, so your test import is you. Add a note like `TEST - delete after checking`. 3. Add two or three more real contacts for the test. 4. Save as **CSV (UTF-8)**. The file must be 10 MB or smaller. ## Import it [#import-it] 1. Go to **CRM → People** and select **Import**. 2. **Upload:** choose your file. 3. **Match fields:** check each column is matched to the right Spacebrain field (for example `phone` → **Phone**). Choose **Skip this column** for anything you don't want to import. 4. Leave **Update existing records if match is found** off for your first test. Turn it on later if you want to update people who are already in Spacebrain; they'll be matched by email. 5. **Check file:** review any errors or warnings and the preview. 6. **Review & import:** select **Start Import**. 7. **Results:** check the numbers for **Created**, **Updated**, **Skipped** and **Failed**. **What you should see:** your test contacts in **CRM → People**. Open your own record and check each detail landed in the right field. When the test looks right, add the rest of your contacts to the file and import again. ## Worked example [#worked-example] Maya's test file has 4 rows. The results show **3 Created** and **1 Failed**. She selects **Download Error Report** and sees that one row had no email address. She adds the email, imports that one row again, and gets **1 Created**. Then she imports her full list of 350 contacts. ## If something goes wrong [#if-something-goes-wrong] | What you see | What to do | | ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **File is larger than 10 MB** | Split it into smaller files, or remove columns you don't need. | | Rows failed | Select **Download Error Report**. Most often it's a missing or badly formatted email. Fix those rows and import them again. | | Accents or symbols look wrong | Save the file as **CSV (UTF-8)** and try again. | | Duplicates appeared | You imported the same people twice with matching off. Next time, turn on **Update existing records if match is found**. | | A column has no matching field | Choose **+ Create new custom field**, but only for data you'll actually use. | For more help, see [CRM import troubleshooting](/troubleshooting/crm-imports/). ## FAQ [#faq] ### Can I import companies or leads with this file? [#can-i-import-companies-or-leads-with-this-file] This file is for people. For companies or leads, go to **Settings → Migrations**, choose the record type and select **Download blank template** to get the right columns. See [Move from another CRM](/getting-started/move-from-another-crm/). ### Can I undo an import? [#can-i-undo-an-import] Not automatically. Keep your original file, and test with a few rows first. ### Where do I record consent to contact someone? [#where-do-i-record-consent-to-contact-someone] Use a field your team has agreed on, such as a custom field for consent source and date. Only fill it in if you actually have that consent. ## Next step [#next-step] Read more about [records and imports](/crm/records-and-imports/), or set up the [new lead follow-up automation](/examples/workflow-recipe/).