Skip to main content
The CSV upload feature allows you to easily import new contacts or update existing ones in bulk. This is particularly useful when migrating from another platform or when you need to add a large number of contacts at once.

​
Getting Started with CSV Uploads

1

Prepare your CSV file

Create a CSV file with the following columns:Required column:
  • Email - The contact’s email address
Recommended columns:
  • First Name - The contact’s first name
  • Last Name - The contact’s last name
Optional column:
  • Subscribed - Whether the contact is subscribed (use true or false, defaults to true if not specified)
  • Any custom properties you’ve created in Brew
Download our example CSV template to ensure your file is correctly formatted.
2

Access the import screen

  1. Go to the Audience page
  2. Click the Add Contacts button in the top right corner
  3. Select CSV Upload from the dropdown menu
3

Upload your CSV file

  1. Drag and drop your CSV file into the upload area or click to browse your files
  2. Wait for the file to upload and process
4

Map CSV columns to Brew properties

After uploading, you’ll see a column mapping screen:
  1. Ensure each CSV column is correctly mapped to the corresponding Brew property
  2. For any columns that don’t have a default mapping, select the appropriate property from the dropdown
  3. Click Continue when the mapping is complete
If your CSV contains columns for custom properties that don’t yet exist in Brew, they will be automatically created during the import process.
5

Review and import

Review your column mappings and click Complete Import. Contacts are processed in the background - you can navigate away while the import runs.

​
Updating Existing Contacts

You can also use CSV upload to update existing contacts:
Brew identifies existing contacts using the email address:
  • If an email in your CSV matches an existing contact, that contact will be updated
  • If no match is found, a new contact will be created
When updating contacts, empty cells in your CSV will not overwrite existing data. Only cells with values will update the corresponding property.
Important notes about the Subscribed column:
  • If not included, all new contacts will be marked as subscribed by default
  • To import unsubscribed contacts, include a Subscribed column with false values
  • The importer will not re-subscribe contacts who have previously unsubscribed

​
Viewing Import History

Past imports are shown below the upload area on the CSV Upload page. Each entry shows details like import date, number of contacts imported, and success/error rates.

​
Troubleshooting Common CSV Issues

If your CSV contains duplicate email addresses, Brew will process them in order. The last row for each email will be the final state. To avoid confusion, deduplicate your CSV before uploading.
Emails must be in a valid format (e.g., name@domain.com).Invalid emails will be flagged during the review step and will not be imported.
If your CSV contains special characters:
  • Ensure your CSV is UTF-8 encoded
  • If you see garbled text in the column mapping screen, try re-exporting your CSV with UTF-8 encoding
For very large CSV files, the import may take several minutes. Consider splitting very large files into smaller batches for easier tracking.

​
Need Help?

Our team is ready to support you at every step of your journey with Brew. Choose the option that works best for you:

Search Documentation

Type in the “Ask any question” search bar at the top left to instantly find relevant documentation pages.

ChatGPT/Claude Integration

Click “Open in ChatGPT” at the top right of any page to analyze documentation with ChatGPT or Claude for deeper insights.