SARE offers an easy way to import your entire email address database. This feature is especially useful when you have your own address database created in another program, such as MS Excel, which can generate a file in CSV or txt format. Below is a detailed guide to help you perform this process step by step. You will also understand the benefits of each step.
Step 1: Prepare the file for import
- Select the character separating the imported fields from the drop-down list. This character must be the same as the one used in the database you want to import.
- Then click the “browse” button. In the dialog box, select the file to import, and then click the “open” button. The path to the file will appear next to the “browse” button.
- Remember to choose the right file encoding. You can choose one of the three available encodings. The choice depends on the type of file encoding you are importing. For example, databases created in MS Excel are usually encoded in WINDOWS-1250.
- Make sure that the structure of the file is correct. Email addresses and the data assigned to them should be organized in columns.
However, if you want to add multiple email addresses without using a file, you can type or paste them into the field described “type or paste addresses.” Remember to keep the column layout for the data you enter.
To complete the first import step, click the “import” button.
Step 2: Data matching
- At this stage, you will see a table with the names of available columns in the system and the column names of the imported file.
- Select the features to export by clicking on the ones you are interested in. Once you have selected the features, click on “add selected”.
- Once all features are matched, click on “import” to proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Define imported addresses
At this stage you assign status, group and email type to the imported email addresses. You can also decide whether to import addresses only to the clipboard by checking the appropriate option. The clipboard is only used for special analysis, no address will be entered into the system.
The SARE program also detects addresses that are already in the database. If such an address appears, select one of four options:
- Change only status – only the status of a recurring email address will be changed
- Do not import – a repeating email address will not be imported
- Overwrite only imported data – new features will be added to those already saved
- Overwrite all data (history deletion) – the previous data associated with a recurring email address will be deleted and new data will be imported automatically.
Moving to the last step requires clicking the “next” button.
It is important to note that the list of imported email addresses is filtered by SARE. If the imported address is on the list of problematic addresses and is marked in red, it means that it contains a syntax error. Such an address will not be imported into the system. In addition, addresses marked as “DUPLICATE” will be imported only once.
Step 4: Summary
At the final stage, you will receive information about the number of processed e-mail addresses and the number of e-mails in which the status was changed. This information will help you evaluate the effectiveness of the import process.
Using the guide above, you will easily import your email address database into SARE, effectively managing your contacts and improving the effectiveness of your marketing efforts.