Getting started with Group creation
Before sending texts or making calls in GetThru, you must first upload your list of contacts into a Group. Your file must be in .csv format to successfully upload it — .xls, .txt or any other format will fail.
Prefer a video? Watch our Groups video here!
How to upload a group
To start, click "Create New Group" from the leftside bar or the "Upload New Group" button on the admin dashboard, which will take you to the Group Upload wizard.
Step 1: Name & Country
Give your group a name, pick the country of origin for your phone numbers, and then click the "Next" button.
Using a naming convention at group upload can save you time and effort during campaign creation.
Step 2: Upload CSV
Select the file you wish to upload by clicking "Add a CSV" to select a file from your computer or drag and drop a file into the upload box. Once you've added your file, you can see the number of rows or clear the file if you want to upload something different. Ensure the wizard has completed assessing the number of rows before clicking the "Next" button to move forward.
NOTE - Currently, the threshold for group size is 50,000 rows. You will see an error if your file is larger than 50K.
Click here to read more about group size .
You can use External Contact Lists if your GetThru account has a VAN integration set up. Read about managing your External Contact Lists or learn how to set up your account with a VAN Integration.
Step 3: Required Fields
Map your file with the three required fields: First Name, Last Name, and Phone Number.
All groups must have these columns, meaning any CSV you upload to create a group must also have values in these fields. If your CSV only has a first name and phone number columns, you must add a "last name" column and enter some value (e.g., Null) into each row.
NOTE - It is crucial to use column headers when you create your CSV. Failing to use headers will remove the first contact in your group.
Step 4: Custom Fields
Map any custom fields you would like associated with your group. GetThru will list all of the custom fields on your account. When you upload a CSV with custom fields, GetThru will "guess" which column in your CSV should be associated with which custom field, just like in Step 3.
If you leave the dropdown greyed out with the "Select {CustomField} column," as shown below, your custom fields will not be mapped.
NOTE - You must create your account's custom fields before you can map them during the Group upload process. Click here for the steps on creating custom fields. If the wizard skips from "Required Fields" to "Review," verify custom fields are created in your account.
If you have a VAN Integration for your account, you will also need to properly map your VAN IDs to ensure your data gets synced back.
Again, if you think that GetThru guessed incorrectly, you can change the mapping using your CSV headers' pulldown menus under each custom field name. Selecting "Ignore" will skip that custom field and not map it.
If you see custom headers listed that are no longer in use, you can archive them to hide them from view and clean up clutter within your account. Click here to read more about archiving your custom fields.
Step 5: Review & Create Group
Make sure everything looks good. You can return to any previous steps to make edits if you wish. Once you are satisfied that everything is set up the way you want, click "Create Group."
Your group will show a yellow dot as it is actively validating your phone numbers and uploading your list. The time this takes will vary depending on your group's size or the level of usage on the platform (e.g., the upload may take a bit longer during busy times in a campaign cycle, like in November or right before a primary in your state).
A green dot indicates an active group that is ready for use on a campaign. It is now ready to be used on a campaign!
NOTE - A group upload should take less than 2 minutes to complete. If an upload is taking longer than that, please write to support at support@getthru.io for assistance.