---
title: Create, import, and manage lists
slug: data-platform/docs/create-import-and-manage-lists
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-08-10T12:05:15.000Z
---

Use lists to organize your customers and make targeted communication easier.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**

If you want to import the historical email engagement information of your customers (such as previous sends, opens, and clicks), see [Personalize email content](https://support.optimizely.com/hc/en-us/articles/4407268754957) instead.
:::

## Create a list

You can add customers to a list using one of the following options: [import](docId\:FJXMh19xD_TJhhcr3Yvck), [manual](docId\:FJXMh19xD_TJhhcr3Yvck), [web modal form (legacy)](docId\:FJXMh19xD_TJhhcr3Yvck).

### Import customers to a list

To import a list from a CSV file, you must first verify that your [CSV file is formatted correctly](https://docs.developers.optimizely.com/optimizely-data-platform/docs/import-data-using-csv). Once your CSV file is in the correct format, complete the following steps to import the list:

1. Go to **Customers > Lists**.
2. Click **New List**.
3. Enter a title for the list and click **Save**.
4. Upload your CSV to the **Drag & Drop** section (or click **browse**).

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/CM1LPzsBp74CocE7-P57Z_32903304998541.png)

After you import the list, a confirmation message similar to the following displays:

![mceclip1.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/11TQDdRToLLdPORyaND4K_9558859296781.png)

As the confirmation message indicates, you can view the status of your upload by going to **Account Settings > Activity Log**.

### Manually add customers to a list

To manually add customers to an existing list:

1. Go to **Customers > Lists**.
2. Locate and open the desired list.
3. In the **Add a Subscription** section, complete the following fields:
   - **Subscription Type** – Select **Email**, **Optimizely Content Cloud ID**, **Phone** or **Web (Moab) Push Token**.
   - **Subscription Value** – Enter the value for the subscription type you selected above.
   - **First Name (Optional)** – Enter the customer's first name.
   - **Last Name (Optional)** – Enter the customer's last name.
4. Click **Subscribe**.

![mceclip3.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/iiBv2fyd1Ie3-VXgTP4W0_9560005062029.png)

After you manually add a subscription, the following confirmation message displays:

![mceclip4.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/Qf67BvExPNP-FBpq-fGl5_9560008658189.png)

Refresh the page to see the manually added customer in the list.

### Add customers to a list via a form (Legacy)

Use a web modal form to collect email addresses and add those customers to a list. You can use the default [Email Modal Collection (Legacy)](https://support.optimizely.com/hc/en-us/articles/4407775227277) campaign or specify a list subscription in any form that contains the **email** field.

## Export a customer list

To export a list:

1. Go to **Customers > Lists**.
2. Locate and open the desired list.
3. Click **Export**.
4. On the **Export Subscribers** window that displays, select the attributes you wish to include in the export.
5. Select the **Format** (either **CSV** or **JSON Document**).
6. Click **Export** to confirm your selection and download the file.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/2LTGvb9uWdl3g8OW_RR2a_32903304999309.png)

## Subscription status

Each contactable identifier (such as email) has a subscription status which indicates whether or not you are allowed to contact or collect data on a customer.

- **Global Unsubscribe** – Attached to the user rather than the email address and indicates that the user does not allow communication. Even if the user is subscribed to a list, they are not reachable in campaign execution (legacy).
- **List Unsubscribe** – Indicates if a user is reachable when sending to a specific list.
- **GDPR opt-out** – Indicates that ODP does not retain or communicate to any identifier associated with the user. This is equivalent to an opt-out of all future communication and data collection, as well as removal of past data.

## Use a list in a campaign (Legacy)

To contact all members of a list, select it as a [segment](https://support.optimizely.com/hc/en-us/articles/4407269013773) for a campaign using the **Are in a segment or a list** filter.

![List\_Segment\_Filter.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/C6p7fP4e7g6HyTyAwur_y_4407774707981.png)

To contact members of a list from a specific segment, select the list after enabling the **Must be subscribed to** [enrollment rule](https://support.optimizely.com/hc/en-us/articles/4407269366541).

![List\_Enrollment\_Rule.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/mP8j0usQMwohZo4BOMVuU_4407774710413.png)