How to Import Extracted Emails into ActiveCampaign
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Export and import options vary by plan, permissions and product version. Check the platform’s current help documentation if a menu or format differs. Use only contact data you are authorized to process; an extracted address is not proof of marketing consent.
Why Import into ActiveCampaign?
After extracting email addresses from files using Email Extractor, you may want to bring them into ActiveCampaign for email campaigns, marketing automations, sales CRM tracking or customer engagement workflows. ActiveCampaign is a marketing automation and CRM platform used by businesses of all sizes for email marketing, sales automation, contact management and customer experience orchestration.
Importing an extracted email list into ActiveCampaign lets you add contacts to lists, enrol them in automations, assign tags, track engagement and manage them through sales pipelines.
Before You Import
Prepare the file
Email Extractor produces a file with email addresses only. ActiveCampaign accepts CSV uploads with multiple columns, but email is the only field required for import.
- Extract email addresses using Email Extractor at bulkemailextractor.com.
- Download the results as CSV.
- The CSV contains one email address per row. This is ready for ActiveCampaign import.
If you have names or other data in a separate file and want to include them, combine the files in a spreadsheet application before importing.
Choose or create a list
ActiveCampaign organises contacts into lists. Before importing, decide which list to add contacts to. You can use an existing list or create a new one. Creating a dedicated list (e.g., "Imported from extracted files - Oct 2026") helps you track the origin of these contacts.
Consider verification
If the extracted emails come from old files or sources of uncertain quality, verify the list before importing. High bounce rates from imported contacts can affect your sender reputation and ActiveCampaign account standing. See Best email verification services.
How to Import
- Log in to ActiveCampaign.
- Go to Contacts.
- Click Import (or Import Contacts).
- Select Import from file and upload your CSV file.
- ActiveCampaign shows a preview of the data. Map the email column to the Email field. If your file has only one column with email addresses, it typically maps automatically.
- Select the list to add these contacts to.
- Choose how to handle existing contacts:
- Update existing contacts adds the list membership and any new tags to contacts already in your account.
- Skip existing contacts imports only new addresses.
- Optionally add a tag to all imported contacts (e.g., "imported-oct-2026" or "extracted-list"). This is useful for identifying, segmenting and managing these contacts later.
- Review and confirm the import.
- ActiveCampaign processes the upload and shows an import summary with counts of added, updated and skipped contacts.
After Import
Tag imported contacts
If you did not add a tag during import, add one now. Tags in ActiveCampaign are flexible labels that help you segment and filter contacts. Tagging imported contacts lets you target them specifically in campaigns or exclude them from certain automations.
Decide on automations
Consider whether imported contacts should enter existing automations. By default, importing contacts does not trigger automations unless you have automation triggers set to fire on list subscription or tag application. Review your automations to make sure imported contacts enter only the workflows you intend.
Send a re-engagement campaign
If the extracted emails have not heard from you recently, start with a re-engagement or introduction email. Explain who you are and why you are emailing. Include a clear unsubscribe link. This reduces spam complaints and helps you gauge interest.
Monitor deliverability
After your first send to imported contacts, check the campaign report for bounce rate, spam complaints and unsubscribes. If any metric is unusually high, pause and review the list quality.
Use lead scoring
ActiveCampaign includes lead scoring features. Assign a baseline score to imported contacts and let the scoring system update as they engage (or do not engage) with your campaigns. This helps you prioritise follow-up.
Things to Know
ActiveCampaign's import review
ActiveCampaign may review your import for compliance with their acceptable use policy. Imports of very large lists or lists with high bounce rates may be flagged. Make sure the contacts in your import were collected with appropriate consent.
Contact pricing
ActiveCampaign charges based on the number of contacts in your account. Importing a large list increases your contact count and may affect your billing tier. Review your plan limits before importing.
Duplicate handling
ActiveCampaign uses email address as the unique identifier for contacts. If an imported email address already exists in your account, the existing contact is updated (added to the new list, given any new tags) rather than creating a duplicate. This prevents duplicates but means existing contact data is preserved and not overwritten by a blank import.
Unsubscribed contacts
If an email address was previously in your ActiveCampaign account and the contact unsubscribed, importing that address again does not re-subscribe them. ActiveCampaign respects the unsubscribe status. The import report shows how many contacts were skipped for this reason.
Lists vs tags
ActiveCampaign uses both lists and tags to organise contacts. Lists are required for sending campaigns (every contact must be on at least one list). Tags are optional and used for segmentation, automation triggers and organisation. For imported contacts, add them to a list (required) and apply tags (recommended for tracking).
No automatic enrichment
ActiveCampaign does not automatically look up names, companies or other details for imported email addresses. If you import email addresses only, the contact records will show an email address and no other information.
