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Uploading Contacts to send SMS Surveys

Learn different ways of uploading contacts to send SMS Surveys

Sonika Mehta avatar
Written by Sonika Mehta
Updated over a year ago

Before you start sending SMS surveys, it's important to have your contacts ready and ensure that their phone numbers are accurate and properly formatted.

In this article, we will talk about the 4 different ways in which you can add your Contacts to send SMS Surveys.

In this article


Adding Contacts Manually

To add contacts manually, simply type in the contact's name followed by their phone number separated by a comma. Each recipient should be on a new line. Phone numbers should be formatted with the country code, with the "+" symbol and no spaces.

For example:
Max Miller, +146XXXXXX
James, +919944XXXXXX
Peter Heis, +267XXXXX

There is no limit on adding contacts manually. You can add as many contacts as you like.


Selecting from a Contact List

You can create Contact Lists and Segments in your platform and check the contact list you'd like to send SMS Surveys to. Multiple Contact Lists can also be selected.

Learn how to create Contacts Lists.


Importing a CSV File

You can also add recipients using a CSV file. Here's how.

  1. Go to Survey > Distribution > SMS > Send SMS Survey from Zonka Feedback > Add Recipients

  2. Choose 'Import' as an Option to Add Recipients.

  3. Choose 'Import CSV'

  4. A popup will open. Drag & drag your CSV file to upload the same.

  5. All Contacts in the CSV would be added in a new Contact List. Add a name for the Contact List. (This can be modified later)

The CSV File can contain 4 columns. These are as follows.

CSV Column

Mandatory?

CSV Header Name Options

Name

No

Name
or
contact_name

Email

No

Email
or
contact_email

Mobile

Yes

Mobile
or
contact_mobile

Unique Id

No

Unique Id
or
contact_uniqueid

Example CSV Import Format

Name

Email

Mobile

Unique Id

Ross

+1983297923

A6781

Rachel

+17895373123

+1982392389

+1872382673

Chandler

+1786327236

Can you import existing Contacts?

Yes, even if a Contact exists in Zonka Feedback, you can import them again in your CSV file. The contact would not be re-added in your Contacts module, but the SMS would be triggered to them.

If you upload new contact details for the Contact, for example, the Unique Id matches but email address is different, the email address from the latest CSV would get updated in the contact.

What happens to Duplicate Contacts in CSV Import?

When uploading a CSV to Zonka Feedback, duplicates are automatically removed and only the first instance of each contact per file is processed. However, we do recommend scanning for duplicates before importing.


Importing a CSV File with Additional Data

A lot of times you would like to send additional information with your Contacts. For example, location where the customer visited, type of item which they purchased, order number, delivery status, country, gender, department and so on.

You can do so by using the option 'Import CSV with Pre-Filled Data'.

In this CSV, you can add as many properties or variables or attributes as you like as columns in the CSV in addition to the mobile number of the recipient.

The CSV File can contain as many columns as you like. These are as follows.

CSV Column

Mandatory?

Description

CSV Header Name Options

Name

No

The name of the Contact

Name
or
contact_name

Email

No

The email address of the Contact

Email
or
contact_email

Mobile

Yes

The mobile number of the contact

Mobile
or
contact_mobile

Unique Id

No

The unique ID of the contact like a membership ID, employee ID, customer ID and so on.

Unique Id
or
contact_uniqueid

Variables / Attributes

No

Pass any attribute — Survey Attributes, Contact Attributes or Hidden Variables

Example CSV Import with Pre-Filled Data

Name

Email

Mobile

Unique Id

contact_gender

billnumber

deliverytype

Ross

+1983297923

A6781

Male

ZA19891298

Express

Rachel

+17895373123

Female

ZA19891318

Standard

+1982392389

Female

ZA19716212

Express

+1872382673

ZA1908182

Express

Chandler

+1786327236

Male

ZA1965327

Standard

Can you import existing Contacts?

Yes, even if a Contact exists in Zonka Feedback, you can import them again in your CSV file. The contact would not be re-added in your Contacts module, but the SMS would be triggered to them.

If you upload new contact details for the Contact, for example, the Unique Id matches but email address is different, the email address from the latest CSV would get updated in the contact.

What happens to Duplicate Contacts in CSV Import with Pre-Filled Data?

In CSV Import with Additional Data, if there are duplicates with exactly same information, they would be automatically skipped. However, if any values differ, the SMS Survey would be sent to them for as many times as they are mentioned.

Let's say you're sending SMS Surveys to customers who made a purchase at your store this week. Of the customers, two of them made a purchase twice at your store.

When you're importing a CSV, you have included additional variables like Date of Purchase and Purchase ID. Now in these two contacts, there would be two rows each and they would have different date of purchase and purchase ID. So Zonka Feedback would only add one Contact but send them two SMSes - one for each unique purchase.

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