Have you collected a list of prospects from LinkedIn or Sales Navigator and are looking for the fastest way to add them to Waalaxy? CSV import is the simplest solution.
In this article, we’ll show you how to import CSV file from LinkedIn or Sales Navigator, set up your file properly, and avoid the common mistakes that can slow you down. ✨
What Are CSV Imports?
A CSV (Comma-Separated Values) file lets you store data in a simple table format. Each row represents one contact or prospect, and each column contains details like first name, last name, company, or LinkedIn URL.
What Does CSV Stand For?
A CSV file is mainly used to organize and transfer data easily from one tool to another. It’s the most common format for managing prospect lists, contact databases, and lead data.
For example, you can export leads from LinkedIn or Sales Navigator, clean up or enrich your list in Excel or Google Sheets, then import the CSV data directly into Waalaxy.
Since CSV files are compatible with most CRMs and prospecting tools, they make day-to-day data management much simpler and faster.
When Should You Use a CSV Import?
A CSV import becomes essential as soon as you start managing a large number of prospects.
Instead of adding every profile manually, you can import an entire prospect list into Waalaxy in just a few clicks. It’s especially useful when you want to:
- Launch a campaign quickly.
- Segment your prospects.
- Transfer leads between multiple tools.
- Enrich or update an existing database.
It’s also one of the most common ways to use LinkedIn Sales Navigator more efficiently and save a huge amount of time on prospecting 👀.
Why Avoid Adding Prospects Manually?
Adding prospects one by one can get painfully slow and frustrating 😅. The bigger your list gets, the more time you lose and the more mistakes happen along the way.
Between copy-pasting profile URLs, missing information, and manual errors, managing leads individually just isn’t the most efficient way to prospect.
With a CSV import, you automate a big part of the process. You can add hundreds of prospects in minutes and focus on what actually matters: starting conversations and booking meetings.
How Do You Import a CSV File?
Importing a CSV file into Waalaxy is the fastest way to add LinkedIn or Sales Navigator prospects to your campaigns. In just a few clicks, you can import hundreds of leads without adding them manually one by one.
Before starting the import, you simply need to make sure your file uses the correct format.
What Are the Requirements for a CSV Import?
To make sure your CSV import works properly, your file must contain a valid LinkedIn or Sales Navigator URL for each prospect. Accepted formats include:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view/?id=https://www.linkedin.com/sales/people/
Important, your CSV file must contain only one LinkedIn or Sales Navigator URL per row.
You can also import email addresses. However, an email address alone is not enough, it must be linked to a LinkedIn or Sales Navigator URL.
Your CSV file can include:
- A LinkedIn URL column.
- An Email column.
And good news: you don’t need to add column headers for the import to work 😉.
What Are the Steps for a CSV Import?
Once your file is ready, importing it into Waalaxy only takes a few minutes. Here’s how it works:
- Go to the “Prospects” tab.
- Create or open the list where you want to import your leads.
- Click “Import” and then select “Import CSV file.”
4. Choose your CSV file from your computer.
5. Match the data fields.
6. Configure your import settings.
7. Launch the import and let Waalaxy automatically add your prospects.
If some prospects already exist in one of your lists, Waalaxy will automatically detect them as duplicates.
You can then:
– Move duplicates to another list.
– Keep only new prospects.
– Adjust anti-duplicate settings when working as a team.
A simple way to keep your prospect database clean and organized 😎.
How to Export LinkedIn or Sales Navigator Prospects as a CSV File ?
Before you can import a CSV file into Waalaxy, you first need to collect your prospects from LinkedIn or Sales Navigator 👀.
The good news? There are several easy ways to export your leads as a CSV file and reuse them in your outreach campaigns.
Export Leads from Sales Navigator
Sales Navigator is one of the best tools for building highly targeted prospect lists. Once your search is ready, you can export those leads and import them directly into Waalaxy. 🤓
And honestly, you don’t need much besides Waalaxy itself. Once the extension is installed, you can access it directly from LinkedIn or Sales Navigator.
You’ll be able to export all the key information you need about your prospects, including:
- LinkedIn URLs.
- Prospect names.
- Company names.
- Email addresses…
Once your CSV file is ready, all that’s left to do is launch your campaign.
Export LinkedIn Contacts to a CSV File
LinkedIn also lets you export to CSV some account-related data, including your contacts.
To download your LinkedIn CSV file:
- Go to LinkedIn Settings under “Settings & Privacy.”
- Open the “Data Privacy” section.
- Click “Get a copy of your data.”
- Select the data you want to export. Download the CSV file sent by LinkedIn within 24 hours.
You can then clean up or organize your file before importing it into Waalaxy 📥.
The small downside? LinkedIn doesn’t allow you to directly export prospects from LinkedIn search results.
And that’s exactly where the Waalaxy extension becomes super useful. In just a few clicks, you can grab prospects directly from LinkedIn and add them to your campaigns without manually copying every single profile.
The 3 Most Common CSV Import Errors in Waalaxy
Even when your CSV file looks correct, a few common mistakes can prevent your prospects from being imported properly. Here are the issues users run into most often and how to fix them quickly.
Prospect Names Are Not Showing Up
If your prospect names are not displaying correctly, it usually means your CSV file only contains LinkedIn URLs without additional data.
No worries, Waalaxy automatically retrieves profile information from the imported URLs. There may simply be a short loading time before all the data appears correctly 👀.
Also make sure your LinkedIn URLs are complete and properly formatted.
Waalaxy Detects the URLs but Nothing Happens
In most cases, this issue is caused by an incorrect URL format or a badly structured CSV file.
➡️ For example:
- Multiple URLs on the same row. M
- erged cells.
- Incorrect separators.
- Incomplete URLs.
Also check that your file is properly saved in CSV format before launching the import. A quick cleanup in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets is often enough to fix the issue 😉.
Some Prospects Are Not Imported
If some leads do not appear after the import, it’s often because Waalaxy detected them as duplicates. The platform automatically prevents duplicate imports to keep your prospect lists clean and organized 🚀.
It can also happen when:
- Some URLs are invalid.
- Certain LinkedIn profiles are no longer accessible.
- Anti-duplicate protection is enabled for your Team workspace.
In that case, check your import settings and make sure the data inside your CSV file is accurate and up to date.
Quick Recap on Import CSV Files
As you’ve seen, importing a CSV file is easily one of the simplest ways to save time on your prospecting.
By properly setting up your file and following the right import requirements, you can add hundreds of prospects to Waalaxy in just a few minutes. Whether you want to export as CSV, manage a CSV upload, or upload CSV file data from LinkedIn or Sales Navigator, the process stays fast and simple. 🤓
Whether you use LinkedIn or Sales Navigator, this method helps automate a huge part of the process and eliminates repetitive manual tasks.
Now all that’s left to do is prepare your prospect list, launch your CSV import, and start your outreach campaigns. 😎
FAQ : Import CSV Files
How Do You Get a CSV File?
You can get a CSV file in several ways depending on the tool you use. For example, LinkedIn allows you to export your contacts directly from your account settings.
You can also create your own CSV file using Excel or Google Sheets by simply saving your spreadsheet in “.csv” format.
How Do You Clean and Prepare a CSV File Before Importing?
Before launching a CSV import, always take a few minutes to check your file. Make sure that:
- Each row contains only one LinkedIn or Sales Navigator URL.
- All URLs are complete and valid.
- Empty rows are removed.
- The file is saved in CSV format.
- The file uses UTF-8 encoding.
A clean CSV file helps avoid most import errors in Waalaxy 😉.
What’s the Difference Between CSV and XLSX?
A CSV file format only stores raw data separated by commas or semicolons. It’s lightweight, simple, and compatible with most tools.
An XLSX file is a standard Excel file. It supports formatting, colors, formulas, and multiple worksheets.
Is a CSV File an Excel File?
Not exactly 😄.
A CSV file can be opened in Excel, but it’s not a true Excel file. CSV files only contain simple raw data, while XLSX files can include complex tables, formulas, formatting, and advanced spreadsheet features.
How To Upload CSV To Sales Navigator ?
No, LinkedIn Sales Navigator does not allow direct CSV imports of prospects.
However, you can export leads from Sales Navigator and then import the CSV file into Waalaxy to launch your outreach campaigns much more easily.
Now you know everything about CSV import with Waalaxy! 🧚🏻♀️
Toinon
26/05/2026 
