This article guides you step by step in creating your targeting CSV file, used with Targeting Studio for your Email deployments.
What is the targeting CSV file used for?
The targeting CSV file allows you to assign each contact to the campaign they should receive. This means that each row represents one contact.
The targeting_ref column is used to define the campaign that should be sent to them.
Once completed, the file is uploaded to the SFTP, where it is automatically processed by the platform (learn more about FTP upload types).
This file is not a complete CRM contact database. It is only used to manage targeting instructions.
CSV file naming
To ensure long-term compatibility of your files, we recommend using a versioned naming convention.
Use the following format:
targeting_v1_YYYY-MM-DD (for example: targeting_v1_2026-04-28-clients_vip.csv)
This convention helps anticipate file format changes without impacting your existing campaigns.
General file structure
Your file must follow these rules:
- Format: CSV (UTF-8)
- One header row (mandatory)
- One row = one contact
- Mandatory presence:
- standard fields
- the
targeting_refcolumn
All column names must be in lowercase.
As our tools are case-insensitive, it is not possible to process two columns that differ only by casing (e.g., Nom_Custom vs nom_custom).
Use lowercase only for all your columns (standard and custom).
Standard fields
Standard fields are common to all clients. They are used to identify the contact and personalize your messages.
Column |
Status |
Description |
|---|---|---|
firstname |
Mandatory | Contact first name |
lastname |
Mandatory | Contact last name |
email |
Mandatory | Email address |
targeting_ref |
Mandatory | Custom value of your choice (see article on the concept of targeting_ref) |
phone |
Optional | Phone number |
gender |
Optional | Gender (M / F) |
civility |
Optional | Civility (Mr / Mrs / Dr) |
lang |
Optional | Preferred language (e.g. fr, en) |
country |
Optional | Country |
solicitation_date |
Optional | Allows you to explicitly define the date on which the contact should be contacted. |
Points of attention
- Column names must be strictly identical
-
targeting_refis the link between your file and your campaigns - If
solicitation_dateis empty, the date used will be the file ingestion date - A delay may be applied based on campaign launch rules
Example of a minimal CSV file
| firstname | lastname | targeting_ref | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marie | Durand | marie@email.com | VIP_CLIENT |
| Jean | Marting | jean@email.com | NOUVEAU_CLIENT |
In this example:
- Marie will receive the campaign associated with
VIP_CLIENT - Jean will receive the campaign associated with
NOUVEAU_CLIENT
Adding custom attributes
You can enrich your file with custom columns to:
- Add business information
- Create segments
- Personalize your messages
The column name must exactly match the attribute name existing in your Feedback Management account.
Duplicate management
Duplicate management is automatically handled during file processing.
The following rules apply:
- Duplicate detected on email + targeting_ref
- Or on phone + targeting_ref
Only one contact is kept, duplicates are automatically removed.
Key takeaways
- Before uploading your file, make sure that:
- the file is in CSV format
- column names are correct
- the
targeting_refcolumn is present - each row contains a
targeting_refvalue - your custom attributes exist in your account
Errors to avoid
- Renaming standard fields
- Forgetting the
targeting_refcolumn - Mixing multiple targeting logics without consistency
- Using special characters or spaces in column names
Download the CSV file template
To help you get started, we provide a ready-to-use CSV template, including:
standard fields
the
targeting_refcolumnexamples of custom attributes
Download the standard targeting CSV template