Step 1: Overview
Use Import Subjects to add many subjects from a CSV, XLSX, or XLS file.
You will:
Prepare a file with at least a name column
Upload and map columns to subject properties
Name the import list (becomes a tag)
Review subjects and social handles after import
All subjects from a file import receive your organization’s default report profile. Change the profile per subject later if needed.
Prerequisites
Professional or Enterprise plan
Permission to add subjects
File with 1,000 rows or fewer
Continue → Step 2
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Step 2: Prepare the import file
### File requirements
Formats: CSV, XLSX, or XLS
Maximum 1,000 rows per file
### Required column
At least one column for the subject name (single Name column, or separate first/last name columns Ferretly can map)
### Recommended columns
Use headers that match subject properties when possible. During import you can also map manually.
Property / header | Description |
|---|---|
--- | --- |
Name (or Firstname / Lastname) | Subject name |
Nickname | Alias |
Age | Age or date of birth |
Email address | |
Address, City, State, Country | Location |
Highschool, College, Company | Education and employer |
PhoneNumber | Phone |
TwitterURL, FacebookURL, InstagramURL, LinkedInURL, TikTokURL, RedditURL, PinterestURL | Fully qualified profile URLs |
Continue → Step 3
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Step 3: Open Import Subjects
In the left navigation, select Add Subject (or Add Subjects). The control may appear as a person with plus icon.
Choose Import Subjects.
Continue → Step 4
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Step 4: Upload the file
Drag and drop the file onto the upload box, or click choose your file.
Confirm the file name. Click X in the upper right of the file chip to remove a wrong file.
Click Next.
The Map Fields page opens.
Continue → Step 5
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Step 5: Map columns
Each column header from file should map to a Subject Property.
Review auto-mapped columns.
For unmapped headers, open the Subject Property dropdown and choose the correct property.
Choose Don't import column for headers you do not need.
Click Next.
Continue → Step 6
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Step 6: Name the list and finish
Enter a name for this import. Ferretly adds that name as a tag on every successfully imported subject so you can filter later.
To add multiple tags, separate them with commas (for example
Q1 hires, campus, priority).Optional (Analyst Assistant orgs only): select Assign these subjects to Ferretly Analyst so each imported subject is queued for an analyst.
Use Back if you need to change mappings.
Click Finish to start the import.
Continue → Step 7
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Step 7: Review imported subjects
Subjects may appear on the Subjects page while the import is still processing.
### Handles and profile details
Handles can appear before full profile details finish loading. Background validation can take several minutes depending on volume.
Some handles may fail validation.
To find the batch later, filter on the import tag. See Find a Subject.
### Success checklist
[ ] Expected row count appears as subjects
[ ] Import tag present for filtering
[ ] Social URLs reviewed and corrected if needed
[ ] Report profile and next action (run check or analyst) decided
Continue → Step 8
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Step 8: Troubleshooting
Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
--- | --- |
Import option missing | Confirm Professional/Enterprise plan and permissions. |
Import fails | Reduce to ≤1,000 rows; verify CSV/XLSX/XLS; ensure a name column exists. |
Columns not mapped | Map manually or rename headers to match property names. |
Missing social profiles | Confirm full URLs in the file; re-edit subjects after import. |
Cannot find the batch | Search/filter by the list name tag you entered at finish. |
Need different report profiles | Imported subjects start on the default profile—update per subject or after assignment. |
Continue → Step 9
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