How do I prepare my CSV contacts file before I upload it into Cloze?

Before importing contacts into Cloze, take a few minutes to prepare your file. Preparing your file correctly helps your contacts import cleanly—so you can start organizing, filtering, and following up right away without extra cleanup.

Follow these guidelines before uploading your file:

1.) Use the Correct File Format

• Save your file as CSV (UTF-8) or Excel
• Only the first sheet/tab will be imported

2.) Use a Cloze Template (Recommended but optional)

The easiest way to format your file is to:

1. Export a template from Cloze
2. Add your contact data to that template

This ensures your columns match Cloze fields exactly.

3.) Add Column Headers

• The first row must contain column headers
• Use clear labels like:
  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Email
  • Phone

Tip: Matching Cloze field names makes mapping easier during import.

4.) Include Required Contact Information

Each contact must include at least one of the following:

• Email address or
• Phone number or
• Name + phone number or
• Name + full mailing address

Without this, Cloze won’t be able to create the contact.

5.) Use One Contact Per Row

• Each row = one contact
• Each column = one type of information (email, phone, etc.)
  • Address values should be separated - Street, City, State, Postal Code, Country

6.) Format Tags Correctly (2 options)

• Add separate columns for each tag (Tag 1, Tag 2, Tag 3)

• If tags are in one column, separate multiple tags with commas

7.) Include Stages, Segments, or Custom Fields (Optional)

You can also import:

• Stages (e.g., Warm, Hot)
• Segments (e.g., Buyer, Seller)
• Custom Fields

Tip: Use consistent naming to avoid duplicates.

8.) Test Before Importing (Optional)

Before importing your full file:

• Upload a small sample (2–3 contacts)
• Confirm everything maps correctly

Next Step

Once your file is ready: Email your spreadsheet to support@cloze.com and we can import it for you or continue to How do I import my contacts to Cloze?