
How I Export Contacts From Gmail
It’s not that they don’t value staying in touch with clients—it’s just that they’re busy. Between managing projects and keeping customers happy, the idea of spending hours digging through contacts to create a list feels overwhelming. So, it gets pushed to the back burner.
But here’s the good news: if you use Gmail, creating a customer list is much easier than you think. In just a few steps, you can gather your contacts, export them into a file, and have them ready for email campaigns—without spending hours.
Here’s how you can quickly turn your Gmail contacts into a ready-to-use email list for tools like Mailchimp. It’s simple, fast, and gets your customer communication back on track. Let’s dive in.
Step 1: Access Your Gmail Contacts
- Open your Gmail account in your preferred web browser.
- Click on the Google Apps icon (grid of dots) in the upper-right corner of the page.
- Select Contacts from the dropdown menu. This will open the Google Contacts page.
Step 2: Select the Contacts You Want to Export
- For All Contacts: If you want to export your entire contact list, you can skip this step.
- For Specific Contacts:
- Check the boxes next to the contacts you want to export.
- Use the search bar to filter contacts by name or group if needed.
Step 3: Export Your Contacts
- Click on the More Actions button (three vertical dots) in the left-hand menu.
- Choose Export from the dropdown menu.
- In the pop-up window:
- Select Contacts to specify which contacts to export.
- Choose the format Google CSV or Outlook CSV. Either format works for Mailchimp, but ensure you select a CSV format.
- Click the Export button, and your contacts will be downloaded as a CSV file.
Step 4: Review and Clean Up Your CSV File
Before importing the file into Mailchimp, take a moment to review it:
- Open the CSV file in a spreadsheet application like Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers.
- Verify the columns include essential details like:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Email Address
- Other fields relevant to your email campaign.
- Remove any unnecessary data or duplicates to ensure your email campaign list is accurate and clean.
Step 5: Import Your CSV File into Mailchimp
- Log in to your Mailchimp account.
- Navigate to the Audience section and select the audience you want to add contacts to (or create a new audience).
- Click on Add Contacts and choose Import Contacts.
- Select the option to upload a file and choose your prepared CSV file.
- Map the columns in your CSV file to Mailchimp fields (e.g., Email Address, First Name, etc.).
- Click Continue to Tag to organize your contacts with tags if needed.
- Confirm and complete the import.
Tips for a Successful Email Campaign
- Segment Your Audience: Use Mailchimp’s segmentation tools to send targeted emails based on interests, location, or behavior.
- Test Your Campaign: Send test emails to ensure your message looks great before sending it to your audience.
- Comply with Email Regulations: Make sure your email list complies with GDPR or CAN-SPAM regulations by only emailing contacts who have opted in.
By following these steps, you’ll have your Gmail contacts ready to use in Mailchimp for a smooth and effective email campaign. Happy emailing!