Definition
A CSV (comma-separated values) file stores a table as plain text. Each line is a row; commas separate the columns. The first line usually holds the column names.
name,email,city
Carter Plumbing,sam@carterplumbing.com,Denver
Greenline Landscaping,tom@greenline.com,Austin
Why it's everywhere
Every spreadsheet, CRM and email tool can import and export CSV. It's simple, small and doesn't depend on any one program.
Common import problems
- wrong encoding — accented letters turn into odd symbols; save as UTF-8.
- commas inside values — must be wrapped in quotes (exports handle this).
- leading zeros dropped — spreadsheets may strip zeros from postcodes or phone numbers; import as text.
- column names don't match — map columns during import, or use a tool-specific export.
CSV exports in Prospect Cheap
Every list exports as:
- CSV with the columns you choose
- Instantly CSV — only rows with an email, columns named for Instantly
- GoHighLevel CSV — contact import format for GoHighLevel
Related: importing lead lists into a CRM
Example
Opening a CSV in a spreadsheet turns "Carter Plumbing,sam@carterplumbing.com,Denver" into three columns: name, email and city. Importing the same file into a CRM creates one contact per row.
Key takeaways
- CSV stores a table as plain text.
- Almost every tool imports and exports it.
- Watch encoding, quotes and leading zeros.