How to import your first leads into Leadnote

The fastest way to fill Leadnote on day one is to bring in the contacts you already have. You save your spreadsheet as a CSV file, tell Leadnote which list should receive the leads, match the spreadsheet columns to Leadnote fields and start the import. This page is the beginner walk-through. Every option and limit is in the full import guide.

Prepare your spreadsheet

Open your contacts in Excel or Google Sheets and tidy them up before you upload anything:

1. Put a heading on every column in row 1. Each heading must be different.
2. Give every person a first name and either an email address or a mobile number.
3. Type mobile numbers with the country code, for example +91 98765 43210.
4. Delete empty rows and any totals or notes at the bottom.
5. Save as CSV: in Excel choose File > Save As > CSV, in Google Sheets choose File > Download > Comma-separated values.

A sheet that imports without trouble looks like this:

If you would rather start from Leadnote's own layout, the wizard has a CSV Template download on its first screen.

Choose where the leads go

Every import goes into one list. A list is a container for leads from one source or one team, such as "Trade fair 2026" or "Existing customers". If none of your lists fits, create one first. See what are lists.

Run your first import

Only the account owner and managers can import by default. If you cannot open the importer, ask your account owner.

1. Open Add Leads under Leads & Customers in the sidebar and choose the Import from Excel card.
2. Pick the list, then drag your CSV onto the upload box. Leadnote shows how many records it found.
3. Leave Skip duplicate records selected and click Next: Map Fields.
4. Click Auto Map. Leadnote matches headings such as "Email Address" or "Company Name" to its fields. Look through the table and change anything wrong. Columns you do not need can stay on -- Do Not Import --.
5. Click Check without importing. This rehearsal saves nothing. It tells you how many rows would be created and lists rows with problems.
6. Click Start Import when the numbers look right.

Read the result

A small file finishes in seconds and shows four tiles: Successfully Imported, Duplicates Skipped, Failed Records and Total Processed. A large file runs in the background, so you can leave the page and find it later under Recent imports.

If some rows failed, choose Download Error Report. It repeats each failed row with the reason beside it. Fix those rows in your sheet, keep only them, and import that small file again. The rows that worked stay in Leadnote. Import errors explains each reason.

Two details are worth knowing now:

• Leads without a Potential value are saved as Low potential. Add a Potential column with High, Medium, Low or Not Relevant if you want to set it from the sheet.
• A Lead Stage column is matched by stage name. A name Leadnote does not know puts the lead in your first pipeline stage.

What to do after the import

Open Leads & Customers and check a few records. Then:

• Assign the new leads to your team, or let the list's rule do it. See assign leads to your team.
• Schedule a follow-up for the leads that matter most.
• Look for repeats with merge duplicate leads.

Other ways to add your first leads

• Type one lead at a time with Add Leads. See add a lead.
• Share the enquiry form or QR code of a list so prospects add themselves. See lead capture forms.
• In the mobile app, bring in phone contacts or a .vcf file. See import phone contacts or a VCF file.

The first week checklist shows where importing fits in your first days.