Skip to content
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Import Records Into Parthenon

Bring your existing contacts into Parthenon by uploading a CSV file. The import tool guides you through every step; uploading your file, mapping your columns, and confirming before anything is processed so nothing lands in the wrong place.

Before you upload

Make sure your file is ready to go:

  • Format: CSV only (.csv)

  • Size: Up to 50 MB

  • Header row: Required - your file needs column names in the first row

  • Contact info: Every row must include at least an email address or phone number

If you need a template to help format your data, you can download one here.

Here's a full list of the fields you can include:

Field Example Notes
First Name Jane  
Last Name Doe  
Email jane@example.com Required if no phone number is provided.
Phone 555-867-5309 Any format works - must resolve to 10 digits. US phone numbers only.
Street Address 123 Main Street  
City Springfield  
State IL Full name or abbreviation.
ZIP Code 62701  
Email Opt-In Yes Accepted: "Yes", "True","No", "False"
SMS Opt-In No Accepted "Yes", "True","No", "False"
Person Tags VIP, Business Owner Comma-separated; each tag limited to 50 characters

Don't worry if your column names don't match exactly — Parthenon recognizes common variations like "First Name," "fname," and "firstname." You can also adjust any mappings manually during the import.

How to import

Step 1 – Start the import

  • Go to Audiences → Imports → Start Import

Step 2 – Upload your file

Drag and drop your CSV into the upload area, or click to browse your files. A progress bar will show you when the upload is complete.

Once uploaded, Parthenon reads your file and shows you a preview so you can confirm it's the right one. Click Continue when you're ready.

Step 3 – Map your columns

Parthenon will automatically suggest column mappings based on your header names. Review the suggestions and use the dropdown menus to make any adjustments.

  • A couple things to keep in mind: Each contact field can only be mapped to one column

  • At least one column must be mapped to Email or Phone — you'll see a reminder until that's done

  • Any unmapped columns will be skipped

Click Continue once your mappings look right.

Step 4 – Review and confirm

The confirmation screen gives you a summary before anything is processed:

  • Total number of records to be imported

  • A preview of the first few rows with your mapped fields

  • Your current contact usage against your subscription limit (if applicable)

If you mapped Email Opt-in or SMS Opt-in, you'll be asked to confirm that the contacts in your file have a prior relationship with your organization and were not purchased from a third party. Check the box, then click Start Import.

Note: if you have questions about how we define "third party" data lists, contact our support team.

What happens next

Imports run in the background so  you don't need to stay on the page. Large files are processed in chunks to keep things fast.

When it's done, you'll see a confirmation with the number of records imported. Your new contacts will appear in the People tab under Audiences.

Handling errors

If some rows couldn't be imported, the error count will appear as a clickable link. Click it to download a CSV report listing each rejected row and what went wrong.

Common reasons a row gets rejected:

Reason What it means
Invalid email address The email isn't in a valid format
Invalid phone number The number doesn't resolve to 10 US digits
Missing email and phone The row has neither a valid email nor phone number
Invalid opt-in value The field contains something other than an accepted value
Duplicate email A contact with that email already exists

When a row is rejected, the whole row is skipped. Partial data is never imported. Fix the issues in the error report and re-upload it to capture those remaining records.

Checking on past imports

Go to Audiences → Imports to see all of your import history. Each entry shows:

  • Filename

  • Status (processing, completed, or failed)

  • Total rows

  • Error count

  • Last updated

If an import is waiting for you to finish mapping or confirm, click the filename to pick up where you left off.

Deleting an import

You can delete an import from the imports list if it's still in the mapping or confirmation stage, or if it failed. Click the delete option and confirm. Imports that have already completed cannot be deleted.