Import and Combine Mailchimp Audiences: A Step-by-Step Guide

Updated at: 08/07/2025

Managing multiple Mailchimp audiences? This step-by-step guide shows you how to effortlessly import and combine them, streamlining your email marketing. Avoid duplicate contacts and wasted resources by learning how to merge your lists efficiently. Discover the simple techniques to consolidate your data and create a unified, powerful audience for targeted campaigns. Get started today and optimize your email strategy!

Methods: Importing Contacts via CSV/TXT File Upload

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Access Contacts Import

    • Go to your Mailchimp audience dashboard and click the 'Audience' dropdown menu on the left.
    • Click on 'View Contacts'.
    • Click 'Add contacts'.
    • Choose 'Import contacts' and select 'Upload a file'.
    Choose 'Import contacts' and select 'Upload a file'. Choose 'Import contacts' and select 'Upload a file'. Choose 'Import contacts' and select 'Upload a file'. Choose 'Import contacts' and select 'Upload a file'.
    Access Contacts Import

  2. Upload CSV/TXT File

    • Click 'Browse' to select your CSV or TXT file.
    • Click 'Upload' then 'Continue to organize'.
    Click 'Upload' then 'Continue to organize'. Click 'Upload' then 'Continue to organize'.
    Upload CSV/TXT File

  3. Organize and Tag Contacts

    • Choose the audience, status, and groups for your contacts. Check 'Update any existing contact'.
    • Add any tags.
    Add any tags. Add any tags.
    Organize and Tag Contacts

  4. Finalize Import

    • Click 'Continue to match'.
    • Select the correct field if prompted, then click 'Finalize import'.
    Select the correct field if prompted, then click 'Finalize import'. Select the correct field if prompted, then click 'Finalize import'.
    Finalize Import

Tips

  • Ensure your CSV or TXT file contains accurate contact information (names, addresses, etc.).
  • Check 'Update any existing contact' to avoid duplicates.

Methods: Combining Mailchimp Audiences

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Access Mailchimp Audiences

    • Go to your Mailchimp audience dashboard.
    • Click the right-hand side dropdown menu and select 'View audiences'.
    Click the right-hand side dropdown menu and select 'View audiences'. Click the right-hand side dropdown menu and select 'View audiences'.
    Access Mailchimp Audiences

  2. Prepare for Combining

    • Select the audience you want to combine. Click the bottom option to replicate the audience before combining (recommended).
    Select the audience you want to combine. Click the bottom option to replicate the audience before combining (recommended).
    Prepare for Combining

  3. Initiate Combination

    • Click 'Combine audiences'.
    Click 'Combine audiences'.
    Initiate Combination

  4. Select Second Audience and Groups

    • Choose the audience to combine with and select groups (optional). Click 'Next'.
    Choose the audience to combine with and select groups (optional). Click 'Next'.
    Select Second Audience and Groups

  5. Confirm and Combine

    • Download any GDPR forms if necessary. Confirm the combination by typing in the confirmation box.
    • Click 'Confirm'.
    Click 'Confirm'. Click 'Confirm'.
    Confirm and Combine

Tips

  • Replicate the audience before combining to preserve the original.
  • Be aware that combining audiences might result in data loss. Download GDPR forms if applicable.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Incorrect Audience Selection

Reason: Choosing the wrong source or destination audience can lead to data loss or merging the wrong lists.
Solution: Double-check audience names and IDs before initiating the import or combine process.

2. Duplicate Contacts

Reason: Importing contacts already present in the destination audience can cause duplicates and inflate your list size, leading to inaccurate reporting and wasted email sends.
Solution: Utilize Mailchimp's duplicate detection features or pre-clean your import list to remove existing contacts.

3. Ignoring Data Field Mismatches

Reason: Different data fields between audiences can result in data loss or inaccurate merging, creating inconsistencies in your subscriber profiles.
Solution: Standardize data fields before importing by ensuring consistent naming and data types across all involved audiences.

FAQs

Can I import a Mailchimp audience that contains duplicate email addresses?
No, Mailchimp prevents importing audiences with duplicate email addresses. Before importing, you need to clean your data and remove any duplicates. You can use spreadsheet software like Excel or Google Sheets to do this. If you try to import duplicates, Mailchimp will reject the import and may provide an error message indicating the number of duplicates found.