Mailchimp
Zoho Leads5 fieldsHow to import Mailchimp data into Zoho Leads
Export your Mailchimp audience and bring those subscribers into Zoho as leads. This template maps email, name, phone, and the per-subscriber notes column into Zoho's lead fields. Two things to know before you start: Zoho requires both Last_Name and Company on every lead, and email-marketing subscribers often have blanks in both. The section below explains how to handle both.
Field-by-field mapping
This is the complete column mapping from Mailchimp to Zoho Leads. The left column is the header in your CSV export. The right column is the Zoho Leads field it should map to.
Before you start
This template's destination has 2 required fields that need attention before upload. You can still use this template. The steps below tell you what to add and where.
- Last NameLast_Name
Zoho requires Last Name on every lead. Mailchimp subscribers who signed up with only an email leave Last Name blank.
What to do. Before upload, fill any blank Last Name cells with a placeholder like 'Unknown' so every row passes Zoho's import validation.
- Company
Zoho requires Company on every lead. Email-marketing subscribers often have no company set, and Mailchimp exports don't include a Company column by default.
What to do. Add a Company column to your CSV before uploading (use 'Individual' as a placeholder for personal subscribers). You can also bulk-edit Company in Zoho after import on the new leads.
| Mailchimp column | Zoho Leads field | |
|---|---|---|
| First Name | First NameFirst_Name | |
| Last Name | Last Name*Last_Name | |
| Email Address | Email TransformLowercased and trimmed | |
| Phone Number | Phone TransformStandardized to international format (+1, +44, etc.) | |
| NOTES | Description Mailchimp's per-subscriber notes land in Zoho's native Description field on the lead. The free text is preserved verbatim. |
Required by Zoho Leads.
Columns we don't use
Your Mailchimp export includes 8 columns this template doesn't map. Each one below explains why, plus the workaround if you want the data in Zoho Leads.
- Address, City, State, Zip, Country
Zoho Leads doesn't have a Mailing address block on the standard layout. Those fields live on Zoho Contacts.
If you need it. Add custom address fields on the Zoho Lead, or convert leads to contacts after import to capture the address block.
- MEMBER_RATING, OPTIN_TIME
Mailchimp's engagement score and opt-in timestamp are Mailchimp-specific. Zoho Leads doesn't have equivalent fields by default.
If you need it. Add custom number and date fields on the Zoho Lead called Member Rating and Opt-in Time, then re-run this template to map them.
- TAGS
Mailchimp tags export as a comma-separated string. Zoho uses its own tags feature, applied after import.
If you need it. After import, apply Zoho tags matching your Mailchimp tag values using a bulk-edit on the imported leads.
Formatting and cleanup
Mailchimp exports rarely match the format Zoho Leads expects. Fix these before you import.
- 1.Lowercases and trims email addresses
- 2.Standardizes phone numbers to international format (+1, +44, etc.)
- 3.Renames Mailchimp columns to Zoho's underscored API names
Or skip the manual work
Operelio runs this cleanup and mapping for you. Upload your Mailchimp export and download a clean, import-ready file for Zoho Leads.
Mailchimp to Zoho Leads FAQ
How do I export my Mailchimp audience?
In Mailchimp, go to Audience, click View Contacts, then click Export Audience. Download the CSV when it's ready.
Zoho requires Last Name and Company. What if my Mailchimp subscribers have blanks?
The 'Before you start' banner above explains both: fill blank cells with 'Unknown' before upload, or bulk-edit in Zoho after import. Either keeps the import from rejecting rows.
What about unsubscribed Mailchimp contacts?
Mailchimp exports include subscribed and unsubscribed addresses. Filter unsubscribed rows out of the CSV before upload to avoid importing people who opted out.
How do I tag the imported batch with a Lead Source in Zoho?
After import, use Zoho's Mass Update on the new batch to set Lead_Source = 'Mailchimp' (or whatever picklist value you use). This adds a one-click filter for the batch later.
Will this create duplicate leads in Zoho?
Zoho uses Email as the unique-value field on leads by default, so rows with matching emails update the existing record rather than creating a duplicate. You can change the match field in Setup, Data Administration, Deduplication if your team uses a different convention.
