Uploading a CSV with ContactMonkey is a quick and easy way to add many recipients to your internal communication campaigns. This article will guide you through the steps to upload a CSV with ContactMonkey to send an SMS campaign.
This article applies to uploading a CSV within the Compose & Send section of our SMS product. If you are looking for more detailed instructions on how to upload a CSV within our SMS product within the Directory tab, please reference this Help Center article instead.
Getting Started With CSVs
Before uploading a CSV with ContactMonkey, ensure your CSV file is formatted correctly. Consider using our sample CSV file (see attachment at the bottom of this article) to make it as easy as possible. If you’ve exported your data and need help making the CSV compatible with ContactMonkey, check out Formatting Your CSV File.
Important:
- Make sure your CSV is in UTF-8 format when exporting it from your data source. This will help ensure the file is compatible.
- If you only have phone numbers (no email addresses) in your CSV file, ensure the first column of your file is named "mobilePhone".
Uploading A CSV In The ContactMonkey Dashboard For SMS Sending
Once you’ve got your CSV prepped and ready, you can upload it while getting ready to send your SMS through ContactMonkey by following these steps:
- Login in to your ContactMonkey account
- Toggle to the SMS product by going into your dashboard, expanding your profile in the top right corner and select "Switch to SMS"
- Click on Compose & Send
- Click the Upload a CSV instead button
- Select Upload a CSV or click on the Download a sample CSV button (we recommend downloading the sample CSV as this has the properly formatted column headers you will need)
- Whether you are uploading your own CSV to send an SMS to, or downloading our sample CSV, it is crucial in order to ensure SMS deliverability, that your phone numbers are formatted correctly (see below section).
- If you are leveraging our sample CSV, open the file that you downloaded, include any relevant data in the CSV file, and follow the above steps again and select the “Upload CSV” option to upload the now populated sample CSV file.
How Should My Phone Numbers Be Formatted For The Upload If I Am Sending An SMS Message?
All phone numbers included in your CSV upload at the time of SMS sending need to be formatted in E.164 format.
What is E.164 format?
E.164 is an internationally-recognized standard phone number format that will help to ensure the deliverability of SMS messages.
E.164 numbers are formatted [+] [country code] [subscriber number including area code] and can have a maximum of fifteen digits.
E.164 phone number formatting requires the following:
- A + (plus) sign
- International Country Calling code
- Local Area code
- Local Phone number
Ex: +15555555555
If you are an SMS customer, please continue to reference this Help Center article that mentions the current countries that SMS messages are supported for in ContactMonkey, in addition to country codes.