Importing lead lists into a dialer: CSV tips that save hours
How to prepare a CSV of leads for dialing: phone columns, states for calling hours, duplicates, and choosing which list the dialer works through.
·2 min read
Published by Text2Sale · Updated . Product questions or corrections: support@text2sale.com.
Lead vendors export CSV files in every shape imaginable. Phone numbers sit in columns called Phone, Mobile, Business or Home; states are abbreviated or spelled out; the same person appears three times.
Ten minutes of preparation before you import saves hours of dialing bad numbers.
Phone numbers can live in any column
Many exports have several phone columns, and the number is in whichever one the vendor filled. When you pick a CSV to dial in Text2Sale, the dialer scans every column for US phone numbers, so a number under Business or Mobile is still found. Numbers in any common format, with or without dashes, parentheses or a leading 1, are recognized.
Include the state
Calling hours are enforced in each lead's own time zone, based on their state. Leads without a state are assumed to be on Eastern time. Map the state column on import so every contact carries it.
Clean before you upload
Text2Sale skips contacts marked Do Not Call and anyone dialed in the last 24 hours, but it cannot tell whether a purchased lead consented to calls. That is on the list's source.
- ✓Remove duplicates by phone number
- ✓Scrub against the National Do Not Call Registry
- ✓Drop rows with obviously fake numbers (555-555-5555, all zeros)
- ✓Keep the lead source and date so you can judge list quality later
Dial one file at a time
Each upload stays selectable on its own. Choosing a single CSV file in the dialer's Leads to call menu works through just those leads, so you can compare how lists perform and keep fresh leads separate from aged ones.
Key takeaways
- →The dialer finds phone numbers in any column of your CSV.
- →Import the state so calling hours are correct.
- →Deduplicate and scrub before uploading.
- →Dial one file at a time to compare list quality.
Put this into practice with Text2Sale
Import leads, create follow-up campaigns, organize replies, and connect texting, calling, and appointments in one workspace.
Frequently asked questions
Does importing leads cost anything?
No. Importing leads is free. Texts are charged when they send, and calls by the minute.
Can I dial a list I imported for texting?
Yes. Campaign lists and uploaded files are both available in the dialer.