Preparing Your CSV File:

1. Open your CSV file containing the contact list you want to upload.
2. Remove any columns besides the email addresses. The upload only needs the email address for each contact, no names or other info.
3. Save the file in CSV UTF-8 format. This is critical - the dashboard can only read the file if it's in this specific format.
   • In most spreadsheet programs, you'll choose "Save As" and then select "CSV UTF-8" from the file type dropdown.
   • The exact wording may vary slightly between programs, but look for both "CSV" and "UTF-8" in the file type name.

Uploading to the Dashboard:

1. Log in to your newsletter dashboard.
2. Navigate to the Audience tab.
3. Under the Groups section, click the "New Group" button.
4. Enter a name for your new contact group.
   • Choose something descriptive so you'll remember what this list is for.
5. Click the "Select a CSV file" button and locate the CSV file you prepared earlier.
6. Hit "Create" to start the upload!

After uploading, you'll see a message that the dashboard is verifying the list. This is an important step where the system checks each email address to remove any spam traps, invalid formats, or other problematic contacts.

This verification process helps maintain high deliverability for your newsletters by weeding out addresses that could hurt your sender reputation. But it does take some time - anywhere from a few minutes for a small list up to 24 hours for a very large one.

You don't need to keep the window open during this process. Feel free to navigate away and come back later to check the status. Once verification is complete, you'll see the final number of imported contacts in your new group.

One key thing to understand is why you can only upload email addresses, not names or other fields. Unlike marketing platforms, the Daily.AI dashboard is laser-focused on delivering your content to inboxes. It's not meant to be a full CRM (customer relationship manager).

So while you can't personalize your newsletters with contact names, keeping the import process email-only dramatically simplifies list management and improves efficiency. You can always use the name of the group to remind yourself who a list is for.

I hope this explanation helps clarify the CSV upload process! It may seem technical at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be able to expand your newsletter audience in just a few clicks.

The key things to remember are:

1. Use a spreadsheet program to prep your CSV in the correct format
2. Remove any non-email columns
3. Give your new group a descriptive name
4. Be patient with the verification process

Happy scheduling!

Don't see your list after uploading? See here: https://dailyai.freshdesk.com/a/solutions/articles/154000215747