How to Import Additional Information into Existing Contacts

Keeping your contact database accurate and up to date is crucial. But let’s be real—manually editing each record is not practical. Whether you need to update existing details, add new data, or link contacts to businesses, doing it efficiently saves time and prevents messy duplicates.

BIGContacts makes importing fresh details into your contacts easy without disrupting your existing records. Here’s how to do it correctly—without losing data or creating duplicates.

Why Would You Need to Import Additional Information?

There are a few key reasons why you might need to update your existing records instead of creating new ones:

Adding missing details – Maybe you collected new phone numbers, email addresses, or job titles and need to update your database.
Updating contacts in bulk – When business details change, you don’t want to waste time updating each record manually.
Linking multiple individuals to a business – Need to associate multiple team members with a company record? Easy.
Avoiding duplicate records – Importing data correctly ensures you don’t create duplicate contacts or businesses.

BIGContacts' import tool lets you make these updates quickly without disrupting your existing data—as long as you follow the right process.

How to Add Additional Information to Existing Business Contacts

Step 1: Export Your Current Business Contact List

Before you start, export your existing contacts to ensure your new data matches the correct records.

Go to the "Reports" tab in your BIGContacts account.
Select "Company Name" from the field list.
Apply filters to refine your list if needed.
Click "View Results," then "Manage Results," and choose "Export to Excel."
Save the file and open it in Excel.

Step 2: Add Your Updates

Do NOT change business names—this is how BIGContacts matches new data to existing records.
Add new columns with updated details (e.g., new phone numbers, email addresses, or lead sources).
Double-check for typos or inconsistencies to avoid mismatches.

Step 3: Import the Updated Spreadsheet

Upload your file using the BIGContacts import tool.
Map your fields correctly—BIGContacts will prompt you to align your spreadsheet columns with system fields.
Start the import and let the system handle the rest.

What Happens During Import?

If the data is identical to what’s already there, it remains unchanged.
If the new data is different, the system overwrites the old values (e.g., changing a "Prospect" to a "Client").
Phone numbers, emails, and addresses are always added as new entries instead of replacing existing ones.

How to Add Additional Information to Individual Contacts

If you’re updating people instead of businesses, the process is similar—just make sure you’re matching by individual contact names instead.

Step 1: Export Your Current Individual Contacts

Navigate to "Reports" and select "Individual Contact Name" from the field list.
Apply filters if needed.
Click "View Results", then "Manage Results", and export to Excel.

Step 2: Add and Organize Your New Data

Ensure that names match exactly as they appear in BIGContacts.
Add new details in separate columns (e.g., social media handles, new email addresses, or updated job roles).

Step 3: Import and Verify the Changes

Upload the file using the import tool.
Map the fields accurately.
Complete the import process.

BIGContacts will update the records without creating duplicates while keeping all previous interactions intact.

How to Link New Individual Contacts to Existing Business Records

Need to connect new employees to their company records? Here’s how to do it without duplicating the business record.

Step 1: Export Your Business Contacts

Go to "Reports" and select "Company Name".
Apply filters if needed and export to Excel.

Step 2: Add Individual Contacts

Insert a new row for each individual contact under the relevant business name.
Ensure that company names match exactly to prevent duplication.

Step 3: Import and Link Contacts

Upload the spreadsheet.
Map your fields so BIGContacts knows where to place the new data.
Import and confirm that new contacts are properly linked.

Special Notes on Linking Contacts to Businesses:

If multiple individuals need to be linked to the same company, each person should have their own row.
The company name must match exactly with what’s already in BIGContacts.

Final Thoughts

Managing your contact database doesn’t have to be a headache. With BIGContacts' import tool, you can:

Bulk update business and individual records without duplicates
Link new team members to companies easily
Save time while keeping your data organized

By following these steps, you’ll streamline your contact management and ensure your team always has access to the most up-to-date information.

Need help? Reach out to BIGContacts support, and we’ll get you sorted. Happy importing!