Importing existing customer profiles using the customer CSV on Shopify can be daunting. It’s not just about copying and pasting data; it’s about ensuring every customer detail transfers correctly to maintain your hard-earned relationships.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of importing customer data to Shopify using a CSV file, ensuring a smooth and error-free transition.

Preparing Your Customer CSV File

Before you begin importing your customer data, make sure it’s in a format that Shopify can understand. To ensure a smooth process, follow the Shopify Customer CSV Template.

You should pay extra attention to these important fields:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Email
• Phone
• Accepts Email Marketing: yes or no
• Accepts SMS Marketing; yes or no
• Default Address: Includes address fields such as Address1, Address2, City, Province Code, Country Code, Zip, and Phone.
• Tax Exempt: yes or no
• Tags

Carefully populate the CSV file with your customer data, following the template’s guidelines.

Tips for Organizing and Cleaning Up Your Data:

• Remove duplicate entries to avoid confusion and maintain data integrity.
• Standardize data formats (e.g., phone numbers, dates) to ensure consistency.
• Fill in missing data where possible to create complete customer profiles.
• Consider adding tags to categorize or segment your customers for future marketing efforts.
• Clean up any special characters or symbols (especially in the email field) that might cause errors.

Now, you’re ready to begin the import.

Step-by-Step Guide to Importing the Customer CSV File

To import the Customer CSV file into your Shopify store, follow these steps:

Step 1. From your Shopify admin, go to Customers

Step 2. Click Import

If your Shopify store is new, it will look like this

Step 3. Select Add file, then choose the CSV file containing your customer data from your computer.

Step 4. 

• To update existing customer profiles, check the box for Overwrite existing customers that have the same email or phone number.
• If you want to create segments from your customer tags on the CSV file, check the box for Add tags to customers in this CSV.

Step 6. Click Import customers to begin uploading and processing the file.

Post-Import Actions

Once you’ve successfully imported your customer CSV file into Shopify, there are several actions you can take to ensure everything is in order and optimize customer management moving forward.

• Review for Errors: Check for any errors or warnings that might have occurred during the import. Shopify provides detailed error messages to help you troubleshoot and resolve any issues.
• Verify Imported Data: Once the import is complete, review the imported customer profiles in the “Customers” section to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Edit Customer Profiles: You can make adjustments to customer profiles individually or in bulk if needed.
• Segment and Engage: Use tags or customer groups to segment your imported customers for targeted marketing campaigns or personalized communication.

Notes & Tips for a Smooth Import

When importing your customer profiles into Shopify using a CSV file, it’s important to follow best practices to avoid common errors and ensure a seamless process. Below are detailed notes and tips to help you prepare and import your customer data smoothly:

• Ensure Your CSV is in UTF-8 Format: To avoid issues with special characters like accents or symbols, ensure that your CSV file is saved in UTF-8 encoding. This is the standard format Shopify expects for all imports. If your CSV is saved in a different format (e.g., ANSI), you may encounter problems where special characters don’t display correctly or are replaced with strange symbols.
• File Size Must Be 1 MB or Smaller: Shopify limits the size of customer CSV files to 1 MB. If your file exceeds this limit, you will need to break it into smaller files for the import process. When splitting them, make sure to maintain the correct formatting and headers for each file, as each will be treated as a separate import.

• Use Shopify’s CSV template: Ensure the first row of your CSV contains the correct column headers exactly as Shopify specifies (e.g., First Name, Last Name, Email). Missing or incorrect headers will cause import errors.

• Handling Duplicate Entries: Shopify will only import the last profile in your CSV file if it contains duplicate email addresses or phone numbers. This means any previous entries with the same email or phone number will be skipped. Before importing, clean your CSV file by checking for and removing any duplicate email addresses or phone numbers. Tools like Excel’s Remove Duplicates feature can help with this process.
• Using Tags and Segments to Organize Customers: The Tags field allows you to categorize your customers, such as “VIP,” “Wholesale,” or “Newsletter.” This helps you filter and segment customers in Shopify, so make sure to use it.
• Customer Passwords Cannot Be Imported: When migrating customers to Shopify, note that passwords cannot be transferred due to encryption. After import, invite customers to create new passwords using Shopify’s built-in email feature.

Bottom Line

Importing customer profiles to Shopify via CSV doesn’t have to be complicated. With proper preparation, use of Shopify’s template, and careful post-import checks, you can smoothly transition your customer data. Clean, organized information is crucial for success.

FAQs

What should I do if my customer CSV file exceeds Shopify’s size limit?

Shopify limits CSV file sizes to 1 MB. If your file is larger, you will need to split it into smaller files. You can do this by dividing the data into smaller segments or using file-splitting tools. Ensure that each split file maintains the correct formatting and headers to avoid import errors.

How can I handle duplicate customer entries during the import process?

Shopify will only import the last profile for duplicate email addresses or phone numbers in your CSV file. To avoid losing data, clean your CSV file before importing by removing duplicate entries. Use tools like Excel’s Remove Duplicates feature to ensure each customer record is unique.

What steps should I take if there are errors or missing information after importing my customer data?

After importing, review your customer profiles to verify that all data has been imported correctly. Check for any missing information or errors and correct them directly in Shopify. For duplicates or incorrect entries, you may need to manually merge or update customer profiles.

Can I import customer passwords into Shopify along with their profiles?

No, customer passwords cannot be imported due to encryption. After importing your customer profiles, you will need to send password reset invitations to your customers. Shopify provides a feature to email customers, prompting them to set up new passwords for their accounts.

Related Posts:

• Export Existing Customers to a CSV File on Shopify
• Edit Customer Profiles In Bulk on Shopify