How to import contacts into Orbit
You can import contacts into Orbit three ways: upload a CSV and map the columns, save people one click at a time with the Chrome extension on LinkedIn, or add them by hand. Tag everyone as you import so smart views build themselves, and let Orbit match on email to avoid duplicates.
How do I import a CSV into Orbit?
A CSV is the fastest way to bring a whole list in at once.
- 1Export your current list to a CSV. Most tools have an export button. Make sure you have at least a name and an email column.
- 2In Orbit, open Contacts and choose Import. Upload the CSV file.
- 3Map your columns. Match your spreadsheet headers to Orbit fields: name, email, phone, company, and any custom fields you use. Orbit remembers common headers.
- 4Set a tag for the whole batch before you confirm, like "newsletter-2026" or "old-clients". This single step is what makes the smart-view trick below work.
- 5Confirm the import. Orbit matches on email, so anyone already in your workspace updates instead of creating a second copy.
How do I save someone from LinkedIn?
Install the Orbit Chrome extension, open anyone's LinkedIn profile, and click the Orbit button. It pulls their name, role, and company into a new contact in one click. This is the easiest way to build a list of real people you actually meet, one profile at a time. The Chrome extension guide covers the full setup.
Saving from LinkedIn one click at a time is free. Ongoing LinkedIn sync that keeps profiles refreshed in the background is part of the upcoming Pro plan, not the free plan.
When should I add a contact manually?
Manual entry is right for the person you just met or got a referral to. Click New contact, fill in what you know, and save. You can always enrich the record later: drop in a note, add a tag, or ask Ivy, Orbit's research agent, to fill in missing details as a suggestion you approve.
Pro tips most people miss
Two habits that turn a flat contact list into a CRM that works for you.
- Tag on import, always. A batch tag like "conference-leads" instantly becomes a smart view you can pin. No tag means no easy way to find that group again.
- Let email matching prevent duplicates. Always include an email column so Orbit updates existing records instead of creating twins. Importing the same list twice with emails is safe.
- Import small and clean, not big and messy. A 200-row list with good tags beats a 5,000-row dump you never touch. You can run Sam, the data-hygiene agent, afterward to flag duplicates and dead numbers.
- Add a source tag too. Knowing where a contact came from (referral, webinar, cold) makes later follow-up and reporting far more useful.
Keep exploring
Frequently asked questions
How do I import contacts into Orbit from a CSV?+
Open Contacts, choose Import, upload your CSV, and map your columns to Orbit fields like name, email, phone, and company. Set a batch tag before confirming. Orbit matches on email so existing people update instead of duplicating.
Can I import contacts from LinkedIn into Orbit?+
Yes, with the Orbit Chrome extension. Open a LinkedIn profile and click the Orbit button to save the person as a contact in one click. Saving one at a time is free. Ongoing background LinkedIn sync is part of the upcoming Pro plan.
Will importing create duplicate contacts?+
Not if your file has an email column. Orbit matches on email and updates the existing record rather than creating a copy. You can also run Sam, the data-hygiene agent, afterward to catch any duplicates that slipped through.
Is there a limit on how many contacts I can import?+
No. The free plan includes unlimited contacts, tasks, and notes. You can import as many as you like. The practical limit is data quality, not count, so clean and tag your list rather than dumping everything at once.
How do I tag contacts during import?+
In the import flow, set a tag for the whole batch before you confirm. Every contact in that file gets the tag. You can then save a smart view filtered to that tag and pin it, so the group is one click away forever.
Bring your whole list in today
CSV, LinkedIn, or by hand. Tag as you go and your smart views build themselves. Free plan, no credit card.
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