Bento
  • Go to Marketing Site
  • Go to App
  • User Work Laptop Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comAccount

  • Graduation Cap Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comGet Started

  • Migration Guides

  • DNS Setup

  • Connection Integration System Api Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comAPI for Developers

  • Package Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comSDK Guides

  • Plugs Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comIntegrations

  • Horizontal Menu Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.comMisc

  • Sign in

Importing into Bento

You've exported your data—now let's bring it into Bento! This guide walks you through importing your contacts, preserving their status, and maintaining all your tags and custom fields.

Take your time with imports. It's better to import correctly once than to clean up mistakes later. Most imports take 15-30 minutes.

Before You Begin

What You'll Need

Exported CSV files from your previous platform
Separate files for active and unsubscribed contacts
Access to your Bento account
30 minutes of uninterrupted time

Import Order Matters

  1. Create custom fields first (if needed)
  2. Import unsubscribed contacts
  3. Import active contacts
  4. Verify everything imported correctly
  5. Test with a few email addresses

Download Sample CSV: Start with our sample CSV file to understand the exact format Bento expects. This template shows proper column naming and data formatting.

Bento's CSV Format

Required Fields

Only one field is absolutely required:

FieldFormatExampleNotes
emailValid email address[email protected]Primary identifier for each contact

There is currently no way to customize or change email as the primary identifier.

Common Optional Fields

Add these columns to enrich your contact data:

FieldFormatExamplePurpose
first_nameTextJohnPersonalization
last_nameTextDoeFull name display
tagsComma-separatedcustomer,vip,2024Organization & segmentation
created_atISO date2024-01-15Historical data
subscriptionTextPro PlanData Enrichment in Templates

All custom field names must be lowercase and use underscores instead of spaces. For example: company_name not Company Name.

Special Columns

These columns have specific behaviors:

ColumnPurposeFormatExample
tagsAdd tags to contactsComma-separated, no spacescustomer,newsletter,vip
remove_tagsRemove existing tagsComma-separated, no spacesprospect,trial
tag_as_eventTrigger automationstrue/falsetrue

Setting tag_as_event to true creates an event for each tag, which can trigger Flows. Leave it empty or set to false for normal tag imports.

Step-by-Step Import Process

1
1. Prepare Your Custom Fields

Before importing, create any custom fields your data uses:

  1. Go to People → Fields in Bento
  2. Click Add Field
  3. Give it a friendly name for example: Subscription Status (spaces and capitals are ok here)
  4. For the Key enter exactly as it appears in your CSV (lowercase, underscores)
  5. Choose the appropriate field type (text, number, date)
  6. Save each field

Some examples of common fields you might create: company_name, phone_number, customer_id, signup_source

2
3. Import Active Contacts

Always import Active subscribers first:

  1. Navigate to People and click the Import Button in the upper right
  2. Select the Import CSV button
  3. Click Next then Select Subscribe Users from the select command dropdown
  4. Make sure you select all the fields you created in step 1
  5. Leave "Mark as unsubscribed" unchecked
  6. Map columns (should auto-detect if named correctly)
  7. Verify tag formatting looks correct
  8. Click Import

Large imports process in the background. You'll receive an email when complete.

3
2. Import Unsubscribed Contacts First

Always import unsubscribed contacts before active ones:

  1. Navigate to People → Import
  2. Select your unsubscribed contacts CSV
  3. Check "Mark as unsubscribed" option
  4. Map your columns to Bento fields
  5. Review the preview carefully
  6. Click Import

This includes bounced, blocked, and complaint contacts. Importing them as unsubscribed prevents accidental emails.

4
4. Verify Your Import

Check that everything imported correctly:

  • Total contact count matches your expectations
  • Search for a few known contacts
  • Verify tags appear correctly
  • Check custom fields populated
  • Confirm unsubscribed status preserved

CSV Formatting Examples

✅ Correct Format

emailfirst_namelast_nametagscompany_name
[email protected]JohnDoecustomer, vipAcme Corp
[email protected]JaneSmithprospect, newsletterTech Inc

❌ Common Mistakes

Email AddressFirst NameLast NameTagsCompany Name
[email protected]JohnDoecustomer, vipAcme Corp
[email protected]JaneSmithprospect, newsletterTech Inc

Don't use semicolons (;) and pipes (|) as tag delimiters, which isn’t standard for CSV Files.
Columen names should match the sample csv file, be all lower case and use an underscore (_) in place of spaces.
Importantly you must match formatting for things like names for stripe integrations for you to not have multiple version of a contacts name.

Problems with the incorrect example:

  • Column headers use capitals and spaces
  • Tags separated by semicolons instead of commas
  • Inconsistent tag separators

The correct format uses:

  • Lowercase column names with underscores
  • Commas to separate multiple tags
  • No spaces between tags

Advanced Import Options

Triggering Automations on Import

To have tags trigger Flows during import:

emailtagstag_as_event
[email protected]welcome_seriestrue
[email protected]customerfalse

Only use tag_as_event if you want to trigger automations immediately. For most imports, leave this column out.

Updating Existing Contacts

When importing contacts that already exist in Bento:

  • Email matches: Existing contact is updated
  • New fields: Added to the contact
  • Existing fields: Overwritten with new values
  • Tags: Added (not replaced) unless using remove_tags

Removing Tags During Import

To remove tags while importing:

emailtagsremove_tags
[email protected]customervip, trial, prospect

This adds "customer" and "vip" while removing "trial" and "prospect".

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions or contact our support team

Import Failed or Shows Errors

Common causes and solutions:

  • Invalid email formats: Check for typos, missing @ symbols, or spaces
  • File too large: Split files over 10MB into smaller chunks
  • Encoding issues: Save CSV as UTF-8 to handle special characters
  • Empty rows: Remove blank lines at the end of your file
Pro tip: Test with 10 rows first to catch formatting issues early.

Custom Fields Not Showing

Fields must exist before import:

  1. Go to Settings → Fields
  2. Create fields matching your CSV columns exactly
  3. Use lowercase with underscores (company_name not Company Name)
  4. Re-import after creating fields
Field names are case-sensitive. Double-check spelling and formatting.

Tags Not import Correctly

Check your tag formatting:

✅ Correct: customer,vip,2024

❌ Wrong: customer, vip, 2024 (has spaces)

❌ Wrong: customer;vip;2024 (wrong separator)

❌ Wrong: customer|vip|2024 (wrong separator)

Import Best Practices

Do This

  • • Test with 10-100 contacts first
  • • Create custom fields before importing
  • • Import unsubscribes before active contacts
  • • Use our sample CSV as a template
  • • Keep original export files as backup
  • • Verify data after each import

Avoid This

  • • Importing all contacts in one file
  • • Using spaces in field names
  • • Mixing active and unsubscribed contacts
  • • Rushing without checking formatting
  • • Deleting original exports too soon
  • • Ignoring import error reports

After Successful Import

Once your contacts are in Bento:

1
Set Up Segments

Recreate your dynamic segments using Bento's powerful filtering:

  • Go to People → Segments
  • Use tags, fields, and behavior to build segments
  • Test each segment shows expected contacts
2
Configure Flows

Rebuild your automations as Bento Flows:

  • Start with welcome sequences
  • Add abandoned cart flows
  • Set up re-engagement campaigns
3
Test Everything

Before going live:

  • Send test emails to yourself
  • Verify personalization works
  • Check unsubscribe links function
  • Test form submissions

Quick Reference

Import Checklist

Before starting any import:

Field Naming Cheat Sheet

❌ Incorrect✅ Correct
First Namefirst_name
Company Namecompany_name
Phone Numberphone_number
signupDatesignup_date
User-IDuser_id
ZIPCodezip_code

Need Help?

If you encounter any issues during import:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Discord: Join our community
  • Import Report: Check your email for detailed error logs
  • Documentation: Visit docs.bentonow.com

Our support team specializes in migration assistance. Don't hesitate to reach out—we've helped thousands of businesses switch to Bento successfully.

Remember: You can always re-import if something goes wrong. Keep your original export files until you're completely satisfied with the import.

© Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.

Follow us on XFollow us on GitHubJoin our Discord server

What's on this page

  • Before You Begin
  • Bento's CSV Format
  • Step-by-Step Import Process
  • CSV Formatting Examples
  • Advanced Import Options
  • Troubleshooting Common Issues
  • Import Best Practices
  • After Successful Import
  • Quick Reference
  • Need Help?