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Import contacts from a CSV file into Nomni Marketing (Liven Engage)

Bring contacts from another email platform or spreadsheet into Liven Engage without breaking your Nomni POS sync.

Your Nomni POS customers sync automatically, so you don't need to import them. Use a CSV import for people who aren't in Nomni POS, for example subscribers from an old email platform, a function or catering enquiry list, or a competition sign-up sheet.

Only import people who agreed to receive marketing from you. Never import bought or scraped lists. They damage your sending reputation and break Australian spam law.

1. Prepare your file

  • Save it as CSV (UTF-8). If it's in Excel or Google Sheets, use Save as or Download > CSV (UTF-8).

  • One row per person, with a header row.

  • Every row needs an email address. Rows without one are skipped. If the same email appears twice in the file, only the first row is imported.

  • Remove what you don't need: unused columns, blank rows and duplicate rows. Smaller files import faster.

  • Dates as YYYY-MM-DD, for example 1990-07-25. Other formats can import as the wrong date.

  • Phone numbers in full international format, for example +61412345678.

  • Several tags in one cell: separate them with commas.

  • No line breaks inside cells, and no emojis. These can make the import fail or get stuck.

2. Create the list first

If you want the contacts on a new list, create it before you import (Contacts > Lists > Add a list). You can't create a list during the import.

3. Import

  1. Go to Contacts and click Import, then Import from File.

  2. Choose your CSV file.

  3. Map each column to a field. Choose Do Not Import this Field for columns you don't need, or create a new field if one doesn't exist yet.

  4. Choose lists to add the contacts to (optional, but recommended).

  5. Add a tag that records where they came from, for example SRC_Import_OldPlatform_2026-10. It makes them easy to find later.

  6. Choose the import status: - Active for people who are subscribed, - Unsubscribed for people who opted out on your old platform (import them so they're never emailed by mistake), - Excluded for addresses that should never receive email.

  7. Advanced options: - Tick Update existing contacts if you want the file to fill in details for contacts you already have. - Leave Trigger automations off unless you want imported people to start automations such as a welcome email.

  8. Click Import Now. Check the import results for skipped rows.

Don't overwrite your Nomni POS data

  • Don't map columns to the synced Nomni POS fields (such as Member Code, Reward Points, Visit Count or Last Sale Activity). The next sync will overwrite them anyway, and wrong values can confuse your segments.

  • Don't create new fields with the same names as synced fields.

  • If an imported person later becomes a Nomni POS customer with the same email, their POS details are added to the same contact automatically.

Common import problems

Problem

Fix

"Existing contact details not updated"

Tick Update existing contacts and import again

Dates show as 1899 or the wrong year

Reformat the column as YYYY-MM-DD

Import stuck or failing

Remove emojis and line breaks, check the file is UTF-8 CSV, and split very large files

Some rows skipped

Rows had no email, an invalid email, or a duplicate email

Need help?

Message us in the chat, email support@nomni.ai or call 1300 445 483. If you're moving from another platform, we can help you plan the move.

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