When sending with ContactMonkey, you cannot use multiple recipient sources at the same time. If you add recipients to the To field, you cannot also use a Contact List or CSV file, and vice versa. ContactMonkey will only send to recipients from one source per email.
How Recipient Sources Work
ContactMonkey offers several ways to add recipients to your emails:
- To Field: Add up to 500 individual email addresses directly in the To field, just like a regular email.
- CSV Upload: Upload a spreadsheet with up to 10,000 email addresses for one-time bulk sends.
- Contact List: Use saved lists managed in ContactMonkey for recurring sends to the same audience.
- Distribution List: Send to existing Outlook distribution lists or Gmail groups that you've already created.
Each method is designed for different sending scenarios, and you must choose the one that best fits your needs for each email.
Which Recipient Source Should You Use?
Choose your recipient source based on your sending requirements:
Use the "To" field when:
- Sending to fewer than 500 recipients
- Adding recipients manually for a one-time email
- You don't have an existing list or CSV prepared
Use a CSV file when:
- Sending to 500-10,000 recipients
- You need to include personalization with merge fields
- You have recipient data in a spreadsheet
Use a Contact List when:
- Sending to the same group regularly
- You want to maintain and update a saved recipient list
- You need organized list management
Use a Distribution List when:
- You have existing Outlook groups set up
- Your organization manages recipients through shared lists
- You want to leverage your current email infrastructure
What Happens If Both Are Present?
If you have recipients in the To field and also select a CSV or Contact List, ContactMonkey will ignore addresses in the To field and prioritize a CSV or Contact List source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I inserted a template, and can't select the To field or upload a CSV / Contact List - the option is locked or greyed out.
A: This indicates that the template has Dynamic Content enabled. Since Dynamic Content uses segmented lists for localized content, this is expected behaviour. If you don't intend to use Dynamic Content, you can toggle this off in the Email Library using Actions. If it is intended, please see our Dynamic Content guide for more info.