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LinkedIn ConnectionsSalesforce

How to import LinkedIn Connections into Salesforce Leads or Contacts

7 of the 7 columns in a LinkedIn Connections export, mapped into 9 Salesforce Leads fields under Salesforce's own names.

7 of the 7 columns in a LinkedIn Connections export, mapped into 7 Salesforce Contacts fields under Salesforce's own names.

Import into Salesforce as
Download the Excel templateUse this template free

Free · 19 KB · Excel 365 or Google Sheets

Download the Excel templateUse this template free

Free · 19 KB · Excel 365 or Google Sheets

Check your LinkedIn Connections export first

Built on LinkedIn Connections’ export columnsChecked against Salesforce’s import rulesUpdated October 3, 2026

One LinkedIn Connections row, through the templatecopied as it ischanged on the way1explained below
  • First Name to First NamePriya
  • Last Name to Last NamePatel
  • Email Address to Email
  • Company to CompanyFernway
  • Position to TitleHead of Partnerships
  • URL to LinkedIn URLlinkedin.com/in/priya-patel-example
  • Not in the export to Lead Source1set to LinkedInLinkedIn
  • Not in the export to Lead Status1set to Open - Not ContactedOpen - Not Contacted
  • Connected On to Description2joined, with labelsLinkedIn connected: 14 Aug 2026
One LinkedIn Connections row, through the templatecopied as it ischanged on the way1explained below
  • First Name to First NamePriya
  • Last Name to Last NamePatel
  • Email Address to Email
  • Position to TitleHead of Partnerships
  • URL to LinkedIn URLlinkedin.com/in/priya-patel-example
  • Company to Account NameFernway
  • Connected On to Description1joined, with labelsLinkedIn connected: 14 Aug 2026

Where LinkedIn Connections and Salesforce don’t line up

1

No lead source or lead status in the export

LinkedIn Connections' export has no lead source or lead status column. Lead Status is a picklist: a value that isn't in it goes in as it is, unless the picklist is restricted, when the field gets its default.

The template sets Lead Source to LinkedIn and Lead Status to Open - Not Contacted on every row. Change either, or drop them, before you import if your process differs.

ExportNo column
SalesforceLinkedIn · Open - Not Contacted
2

One column kept in Description

This template gives Connected On no Salesforce field of its own.

The template writes them into Description, each with its label, and leaves empty ones out.

ExportConnected On 14 Aug 2026
SalesforceLinkedIn connected: 14 Aug 2026
1

One column kept in Description

This template gives Connected On no Salesforce field of its own.

The template writes them into Description, each with its label, and leaves empty ones out.

ExportConnected On 14 Aug 2026
SalesforceLinkedIn connected: 14 Aug 2026

Check your LinkedIn Connections export before you import it

Looks for the 7 columns this template reads, and what Salesforce would skip.

Drop your LinkedIn Connections CSV here

Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, and results are counts only.

Looks for the 7 columns this template reads, and what Salesforce would skip.

Drop your LinkedIn Connections CSV here

Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, and results are counts only.

LinkedIn Connections to Salesforce in three steps

Step 1Export from LinkedIn Connections
  1. Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select Settings & Privacy.
  2. Click Data privacy on the left.
  3. Under How LinkedIn uses your data, click Download your data.
  4. Select Connections and click Request archive.
  5. Download the file from the link LinkedIn emails you. The link works for 72 hours.

Only first-degree connections are included.

An email address appears only for connections who allow their connections to see or download it.

LinkedIn: Export connectionsLinkedIn: Download your account data
Step 2Paste into the template
  1. Paste the export at A1 of Paste your export here.
  2. Start here checks all 7 columns were found.
  3. Save Salesforce Leads import as a CSV.

Works in Excel for Microsoft 365 and Google Sheets. Excel 2019 and older, Apple Numbers and LibreOffice can't run the formulas this file uses.

Just the 9 headers as a CSV

Step 3Import into Salesforce
  1. From Setup, type Data Import Wizard in Quick Find, select it and click Launch Wizard.
  2. Under Standard Objects, choose Leads.
  3. Choose whether to add new records, update existing ones or both, and how to match them.
  4. Drag in your CSV, check the encoding and click Next.
  5. Check the mapping, map any field left over, click Next, then Start Import.
Salesforce's Data Import Wizard, screen by screen

Operelio, with the same template

Fixes the capitals in names, removes duplicate and blank rows, which the Excel file leaves to you. On every plan. Email verification, a check against your Salesforce records and dropdowns, and the push, from Starter.

Use this template in Operelio
Step 1Export from LinkedIn Connections
  1. Click the Me icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage and select Settings & Privacy.
  2. Click Data privacy on the left.
  3. Under How LinkedIn uses your data, click Download your data.
  4. Select Connections and click Request archive.
  5. Download the file from the link LinkedIn emails you. The link works for 72 hours.

Only first-degree connections are included.

An email address appears only for connections who allow their connections to see or download it.

LinkedIn: Export connectionsLinkedIn: Download your account data
Step 2Paste into the template
  1. Paste the export at A1 of Paste your export here.
  2. Start here checks all 7 columns were found.
  3. Save Salesforce Contacts import as a CSV.

Works in Excel for Microsoft 365 and Google Sheets. Excel 2019 and older, Apple Numbers and LibreOffice can't run the formulas this file uses.

Just the 7 headers as a CSV

Step 3Import into Salesforce
  1. From Setup, type Data Import Wizard in Quick Find, select it and click Launch Wizard.
  2. Under Standard Objects, choose Accounts and Contacts.
  3. Choose whether to add new records, update existing ones or both, and how to match them.
  4. Drag in your CSV, check the encoding and click Next.
  5. Check the mapping, map any field left over, click Next, then Start Import.
Salesforce's Data Import Wizard, screen by screen

Operelio, with the same template

Fixes the capitals in names, removes duplicate and blank rows, which the Excel file leaves to you. On every plan. Email verification, a check against your Salesforce records and dropdowns, and the push, from Starter.

Use this template in Operelio

Questions

Where does LinkedIn Connections' export fill Last Name and Company, which Salesforce requires?

Last Name comes from LinkedIn Connections' Last Name column; Company comes from LinkedIn Connections' Company column. The checker above counts the rows with Last Name or Company blank.

Where does Connected On go?

Into Description on each lead, labeled like "LinkedIn connected: 14 Aug 2026".

What happens if Company is blank for some connections?

Salesforce requires a Company value for every lead, so it will reject any row with a blank Company field during import. LinkedIn fills Company on most rows, but spot-check your CSV before upload, or fill blank cells with a placeholder like Unknown and update in Salesforce after import.

Where does LinkedIn Connections' export fill Last Name, which Salesforce requires?

Last Name comes from LinkedIn Connections' Last Name column. The checker above counts the rows with Last Name blank.

Where does Connected On go?

Into Description on each contact, labeled like "LinkedIn connected: 14 Aug 2026".

Should I use the Leads template or the Contacts template?

Use the LinkedIn Connections to Salesforce Leads template for connections you want to work as cold leads before they convert. Use this Contacts template when you want the people to land directly as Contacts, for example because they already belong to Accounts you track. Salesforce Leads and Contacts are different objects with different fields, so the two templates map the export differently.

Duplicates and undoing an import: Salesforce import questions.

Try this template free

Upload your LinkedIn Connections export and download a file Salesforce can import. No credit card needed. The push into Salesforce is from Starter.

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