How to indicate the country for an SMS import

You will learn

Learn how to indicate the country in a CSV file with SMS profiles.

In the instructions below, we use Google Sheets to indicate the country in an SMS list upload. This can be accomplished using other programs too, but the instructions may differ. If your browser blocks copying and pasting through the Edit menu, use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V on Windows, or Command+C and Command+V on Mac.

Before you begin

You can only import SMS consent in countries where Klaviyo SMS is available.

To import SMS consent, first set up SMS and a sending number for each country you are importing. See How to upload a list of SMS contacts for the full import requirements.

Before adding in the country to a CSV, you should:

• Copy your CSV into a program such as Google Sheets.
• Make the first column in the CSV email (preferred, if available) or phone number.

Options for indicating the country

In the table, we outline:

• Full names of the available countries
• The country code
• Accepted ways you can shorten the country names in your CSV (if you don’t have the full name)

Use a country name or accepted abbreviation in a Country column. Add a numeric country code to the beginning of a phone number, rather than entering it in the Country column.

Indicate the country for an SMS import

The best way to indicate the country in a CSV depends on where your contacts are located and what information your previous SMS provider exports.

Choose the first option that best describes your situation:

• I have a country code at the beginning of every phone number (most common).
• I don’t have a country code and my contacts are from:
  • A single country.
  • Only the US and Canada.

If your contacts are from multiple countries and their numbers do not include country codes, add a Country column and enter the correct country name or accepted abbreviation for each contact. If you do not know a contact’s country, obtain it from your previous SMS provider or verify it before importing.

Country code is included

If every phone number already includes its country code but is missing a plus sign, add a plus sign before the number using the steps below. This works even if your contacts are from multiple countries. If a number already starts with a plus sign and the correct country code, leave it unchanged.

Watch our video or scroll down for instructions.

This content requires Functional cookies to be enabled.

Update Cookie Settings

1. Highlight the phone number column.
   

2. Click Insert > Columns.
3. Select Insert 1 column left.
   

4. Name the new column Phone Number.
5. In the first cell below the new column header, enter ="'+"&C2 and press Enter.
   • Replace C2 with the first cell containing a phone number in the original column, after you insert the new column.

6. Copy the cell containing the formula, then select the remaining cells in the new column down to the last row with a contact.
7. Click Edit > Paste to format the rest of the phone numbers.
8. Highlight and then copy the new column.
9. With the new column still selected, go to Edit > Paste special.
10. Select Paste values only to replace the formulas with their results.

11. Delete the original phone number column (the one without the plus signs).
    • Note that the apostrophe may disappear if you click into another cell.
      

12. Click File > Download > Comma Separated Values (.csv).

Contacts are all from 1 country

If your list contains SMS profiles that are all from the same country, follow the steps below:

1. Click into an empty column in your spreadsheet.
2. Name that column Country.
3. In the first cell under that title, write in the country (e.g., Canada or CAN).
   

4. Copy the country’s name/abbreviation.
5. Highlight the remaining cells in that column down to the last row with a contact.
6. Click Edit > Paste. All selected cells should now show the country name.

7. Click File > Download.
8. Choose Comma Separated Values (.csv).

Contacts are only in the US and Canada

If your contacts are all from the US or Canada and their phone numbers are 10 digits without a country code, add +1 using the steps below. Both countries use the same country code. If a number already includes 1 as its country code, use the Country code is included section instead.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Highlight the phone number column.
2. Click Insert > Columns.
3. Select Insert 1 column left.
   

4. Name the new column Phone Number.
5. In the first cell below the new column header, enter ="'+1"&C2 and press Enter.
   • Keep 1 as the country code for both the US and Canada.
   • Replace C2 with the first cell containing a phone number in the original column, after you insert the new column.

6. Copy the cell containing the formula, then select the remaining cells in the new column down to the last row with a contact.
7. Click Edit > Paste to format the rest of the phone numbers.
8. Highlight and then copy the new column.
9. With the new column still selected, go to Edit > Paste special.
10. Select Paste values only to replace the formulas with their results.

11. Delete the original phone number column (the one without the plus signs).
    

12. Click File > Download > Comma Separated Values (.csv).

Outcome

Your CSV now includes a country name or abbreviation for each contact, or phone numbers that start with a plus sign and country code. When uploading the file, map your phone number column to Phone Number and your country column, if used, to Country.

You can now upload the contacts with their existing subscribed or unsubscribed status. Formatting a phone number does not add or remove SMS consent. Follow How to upload a list of SMS contacts to include and map the appropriate consent columns and complete the import.

Additional resources