Summary
Efficiently importing your Members into Join It is key to getting your Membership database up and running. This guide will walk you through the entire process — from preparing your data to submitting it for import. We’ll cover what information you’ll need, how to use our import template, and common questions along the way.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Prepare Your Organization for the Import
Before importing Members, make sure your Organization is set up correctly:
Create Membership Types: Set up all the Membership categories your organization offers.
Create Custom Fields: Add any specific data fields that you want to track for your Members.
Step 2: Download the Import Template
To begin importing:
From the left-hand menu, go to the 'Members' section and click 'View Members'.
Scroll to the bottom of the Members table and click the 'Bulk Import' button.
Click 'Download Template' to get the CSV file that matches your organization’s Membership fields.
Description of Screenshot: Download Template button
Step 3: What Information to Include in the Import
When filling out the import template, here’s the key information to include:
Critical Information (Required or Highly Recommended)
First Name (Text) – Highly recommended
Last Name (Text) – Highly recommended
Email (Email) – Highly recommended
Membership Type (Text) – Required
Status (Text) – Required: Prospective, Pending, Active, Canceled, Expired
Expiration Date (Date) – Use the format YYYY-MM-DD. If left blank, no expiration will be assumed.
Joined Date (Date) - Use the format YYYY-MM-DD. If left blank, it will default to the day of the Bulk import.
You can find additional details about field names at the bottom of the Bulk Import page.
Optional Default Fields:
Birthdate (Date)
Gender (Text)
Company (Text)
Job Title (Text)
Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn (Text)
Address: Street, City, Region, Zip, Country (Text)
Phone Number (Standardized to E.164 - e.g. +14253333333)
Custom Fields:
Join It also supports the import of custom fields. Learn more about setting up custom fields here.
Step 4: Submitting Your CSV for Import
Once your member data is formatted in the CSV:
Email the completed file to support@joinit.com
If you used Google Sheets, download the document as a CSV by clicking 'File', 'Download', then 'Comma Separated Values (CSV)'.
Our team will confirm receipt and follow up within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will Members automatically receive an email when I import them?
No, your Members will not be notified upon import. However, if you have automated emails (e.g., Renewal Reminders) set up, they will be sent according to the Members’ expiration dates.
How long does the bulk Import process take?
Typically, your member list will be imported within 24 hours. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out.
Do the headers need to match the template exactly?
Yes, it’s crucial to keep the headers exactly as they appear in the template to ensure the information is imported correctly.
Can I connect Group Members via a Bulk Import?
Yes, you'll be able connect Group Members via a Bulk import. Here's where you can learn how to do that.
What is the E.164 format for the Phone field?
E.164 is an international standard format for telephone numbers. This allows us to validate and format every phone number the same way in Join It.
Here's the breakdown of the structure that the E.164 numbers are formatted in: [+] [country code] [subscriber number, including area code].