Bulk Upload

Bulk Upload Groups and Group Content Area Values

OVERVIEW

Bulk Upload Groups lets you create multiple groups—or update existing groups—using a CSV file. You can also use the upload to populate values for Group Content Areas.

Group Content Areas contain reusable content that is set at the group level. These values are automatically available to mailings created for that group.

You must have the Manage Groups permission to use this feature.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

1. Go to Groups.
2. If needed, select Manage Group Content Areas to create or review your Group Content Areas.
3. Select Bulk Upload Groups.
4. Select Download CSV Template.

The downloaded template contains the standard group fields and all Group Content Areas currently configured for your account. Download a new template if Group Content Areas have been added or renamed since you last downloaded it.

CSV FORMAT

Your CSV should include one header row and one row for each group.

The following standard fields are required:

• Name: The group’s unique name.
• From Name: The sender name used by the group.
• From Address: The sender’s email address.
• Reply To Address: The email address that receives replies.

Remove empty rows before uploading. If a value contains a comma, quotation mark, or line break, create the file in a spreadsheet application and export it as CSV so the value is escaped correctly.

CREATING AND UPDATING GROUPS

SmarterSends uses the Name value to determine whether a group already exists.

• If the name does not match an existing group, a new group is created.
• If the name matches an existing group, that group is updated with the mapped values from the CSV.
• Changing the Name does not rename an existing group. It creates a new group instead.

Because mapped values replace existing values, do not leave a mapped cell blank unless you intend to clear that value.

INCLUDING GROUP CONTENT AREAS

Each Group Content Area appears as a separate CSV column using the content area’s name.

For example:

Name,From Name,From Address,Reply To Address,Hero Heading,Hero Image

When the upload begins, SmarterSends identifies Group Content Area columns by their headings. Review every column mapping before starting the import.

• Required Group Content Areas must be mapped to a CSV column.
• Optional Group Content Areas can be mapped or set to Ignore.
• Ignoring an optional area leaves its existing value unchanged.
• Mapping an area and providing a blank cell clears that group’s value.
• Required status makes the column mapping mandatory. You should still confirm that every row contains the required value.

Group Content Area values are stored exactly as provided, except for images. Follow the configuration of each area:

• Text and Text Area: Enter the text to display.
• Rich Text: Enter the intended content. HTML may be used when formatted content is required.
• Dropdown: Enter the configured option value. This may be different from the option’s displayed name.
• URL/Mailto: Enter a complete URL or email address, depending on the area’s configuration.
• Show/Hide: Use 1 to show or enable the content and 0 or a blank value to hide or disable it.
• Auto Append to URLs: Enter the value that should be appended.
• Integration-specific areas: Enter the value or ID specified by your account administrator.

IMAGE GROUP CONTENT AREAS

For an Image Group Content Area, enter a direct URL to the image file.

The image must:

• Use an HTTP or HTTPS URL.
• Be publicly accessible without a login.
• Be a JPG, PNG, or GIF.
• Be no larger than 10 MB.

SmarterSends imports the image into the shared image gallery and applies the dimensions configured for the Group Content Area.

A blank image cell clears the group’s current image value. If an image cannot be downloaded or is not supported, the existing image value is left unchanged. Review image areas after the import completes.

UPLOADING THE CSV

1. Go to Groups.
2. Select Bulk Upload Groups.
3. Select your CSV file.
4. Review the automatically selected column for every standard field and Group Content Area.
5. Correct any mapping that was not detected properly.
6. Set unused optional Group Content Areas to Ignore.
7. Select Upload Groups.

The file is processed in the background. You can close the processing message and continue working. SmarterSends will notify you when the import is complete.

AFTER THE IMPORT

After receiving the completion notification:

1. Return to Groups.
2. Open several newly created or updated groups.
3. Verify the sender information and Group Content Area values.
4. Pay particular attention to image, dropdown, rich-text, and required content areas.

For best results, test a small CSV first before uploading a large number of groups.