Lead Recovery DeskPreview my list free

Find your starting point

Find one useful list. Keep the other records safe.

You do not need to bring every system together before starting. Find where you keep your past customers or enquiries, then check where their contact restrictions are recorded.

Follow the work you already do

Think about the last time you booked a customer, sent a quote or checked an old enquiry. The app or spreadsheet you opened is a useful place to start looking.

  1. Find the customer records

    Look in your booking tool, customer system, invoicing app or spreadsheet. You want people who dealt with this business, not a bought list or a collection of website visitors.

  2. Find the “do not contact” records too

    If you previously used an email platform, it may hold unsubscribes that your customer spreadsheet does not. Keep those records and compare them before considering follow ups. Starting with one file does not mean ignoring restrictions elsewhere.

  3. Choose the matching guide below

    You export a file yourself. No CRM or address-book connection is required. If several sources disagree about a contact, keep the restriction and ask for help before sending.

An example business with three sources

Original example: a booking system holds customers, a spreadsheet holds past enquiries, and an email platform holds unsubscribes. Review the restrictions alongside whichever list you choose.
Illustrative example, not connected accounts. Start with a useful list and keep the separate restriction records alongside it.Scroll the image sideways to see all sources.

Where did you find it?

Excel or Google SheetsMake a copy, tidy the columns, then save a CSV.Open the guideGmail or Outlook contactsExport contacts, then remove staff and suppliers.Open the guideCRM, booking, invoicing or trade systemFind the contact export and keep dates and restrictions.Open the guideEmail marketing platformKeep unsubscribe and bounce records with your export.Open the guide

If you still cannot find a usable list

I have invoices, paper notes or PDFs

Check whether the system that created them has a customer CSV export. LRD cannot read a photograph or PDF as a contact list. Do not upload documents containing private notes or payment details.

Someone else manages the system

Ask them which app holds customer records and whether they can export the relevant contacts and restrictions as CSV. You do not need their password.

I only have names, with no email addresses

LRD’s follow ups use email. A name-only list does not provide a way to email someone. Check your own business records; do not guess addresses or buy extra contact details.

I want to see the process before using my list

Try the small example CSV. Its contacts are invented, and previewing it sends nothing. It counts towards your account’s free preview allowance.

For help, tell us the app name, roughly how many rows there are and the column headings. Do not send customer rows or passwords.

Help me choose a sourceBefore-upload checklist