Let's discuss the best approach for importing customers and contacts versus letting them create their own accounts organically. It's important to note that it doesn't have to be an all-or-none situation. You can split your customers into different categories, such as beta testers, one-time customers, and repeat customers.
Importing your customers' data provides you with greater control over the accuracy and formatting of their information. When customers create their own accounts, they may not use proper syntax, which could lead to errors in their information. Additionally, if you have a large number of customers creating their own accounts, it may be challenging to keep track of all the information. By importing their data, you can clean it up and ensure that it's formatted correctly.
To start, gather all of your data into one Excel sheet and take the time to clean it up. Consider formatting issues such as all caps addresses and weird abbreviations. Once you've cleaned up the data, identify the different types of customers you have and delete the ones that you don't want to work with or create an account for. Then, create a few imports by copying and pasting or saving different revisions.
It's worth taking a few extra hours to clean up your data, as it will save you time and effort in the long run. By taking the time to import your customers' data, you'll have greater control over their information and ensure that it's accurate. Ultimately, the most important thing is to execute your plan and use timing and context to your advantage.