Why Salesforce Excel import only shows new contacts in list view

using Coefficient excel Add-in (500k+ users)

Understand why Salesforce Excel imports exclude existing contacts from list views and how to create comprehensive contact lists that include all records.

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When you import Excel data into Salesforce , the resulting list view only displays newly created records, not your existing contacts. This happens because Salesforce’s import process creates new Contact records by default, regardless of whether similar contacts already exist in your database.

The list view references only these newly inserted record IDs, completely bypassing your existing contact database and creating an incomplete picture of your contact population.

Create comprehensive contact list views using Coefficient

Coefficient addresses this limitation by providing intelligent data synchronization rather than simple data import. Instead of creating separate populations of contacts, it unifies your Excel data with existing Salesforce records in a single, comprehensive view.

How to make it work

Step 1. Import both datasets into one spreadsheet.

Use Coefficient to import your existing Salesforce contacts alongside your Excel data in a single spreadsheet. This gives you complete visibility into both datasets and allows for proper comparison and matching.

Step 2. Identify overlaps and create unified data.

Use formula-based matching to identify which Excel contacts already exist in Salesforce. Create a unified dataset that shows both existing contacts (with updated information) and genuinely new contacts that need to be added.

Step 3. Export comprehensive contact list.

Use Coefficient’s export functionality to push both existing and new contact IDs to a Campaign Members object or custom list object. This creates a list view that represents your complete contact population rather than just newly imported records.

Step 4. Maintain real-time synchronization.

Set up ongoing synchronization so changes made in your spreadsheet automatically sync back to Salesforce. This maintains accuracy between your Excel planning documents and Salesforce data without the disconnect created by traditional imports.

Get complete visibility into your contact database

This approach ensures your list views represent your entire contact population, not just the latest import batch. You’ll have comprehensive contact lists that include both existing and new records. Start building unified contact views today.

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