How To Import Lists into MailChimp

We've made it super easy to import your lists into MailChimp. All you have to do is open up your list in a spreadsheet application, such as:

• Google Docs Spreadsheets
• Apple Numbers
• Microsoft Excel

Then copy-paste your data right into MailChimp. Here's a screenshot:

Yep, that's it. The only trick is getting your data to open in one of these spreadsheet applications. That's easy too. Just go to your database or address book, and Export your list as a comma-separated (.CSV) or tab-delimited file. Once that file has been exported, open it in your spreadsheet app. As long as data was properly separated with commas and tabs, it should open right up in a nice, neat spreadsheet.

Tips for importing your lists:

• If your email list management tool has been collecting IP address and date/time stamps for each of your subscribers, you can import all that data into MailChimp too. Just click the "Advanced Import" checkbox under the textarea where you paste your list.
• If your list is too large (over 65,000 entries or so), Microsoft Excel won't open it. You'll need to export your list as a big .TXT file (with columns arranged properly), then import it into MailChimp.
• Before you export your list from whatever database you're using, take a moment to clean out any entries that are too old, or didn't opt-in for email marketing.
• Do not ever do a blind, mass-import into MailChimp from your email program's Address Book. You're bound to have entries like "Amazon.com Customer Support" in there, and that'll just get us both in trouble (true story).

Video Tutorial

Here's a demo video that shows how MailChimp's Email List Management works.

Anti-Spam Policy & Terms of Use  |   Privacy Policy  |   About  |   Contact  |   Help  |   Search  |  Site Map

Email Marketing Resources  |   Free HTML Email Templates  |   Partners  |  Find an Expert  |   Add-ons  |   API  |   Plugins  |   Blog  |  Demos  |  Surveys  |   Webinars  |   Subscribe to our free Email Marketing Tips Newsletter

New Features:  RSS to Email  |   A/B Split Testing Emails  |   Google Analytics Integration  |   Segmentation

© 2001-2008 MailChimp. All Rights Reserved.  |  Toll-Free: 1-866-284-2541