Hello there, Saleshandy users!
Exclude List in Lead Finder lets you upload the leads and companies you already own and hide them from your future searches. This way, you only see fresh leads and never spend credits on leads you already have.
What is Exclude List?
Exclude List lets you bring your own list of people or companies into Lead Finder and remove them from your search results.
If you're moving from Apollo, Lusha, ZoomInfo, or another tool, you don't need to search again for leads you already own. Instead, you can:
Upload your existing CSV of people or companies
Match it against the Saleshandy database
Save the matched records as a list
Never see those leads again in the Net New tab, without selecting any filter
You can also add the same list under Include lists to see only the leads in that list.
Exclude List is useful for:
Users moving to Saleshandy from tools like Apollo, Lusha, or ZoomInfo
Users who want to bring in lists from events, purchased databases, or past campaigns
Anyone who doesn't want to pay credits again for leads they already have
Important points:
Importing and matching are free. No credits are used at any step.
Your list stays saved, so you can reuse it in any future search.
Who Can Use Exclude List?
Plan | Access |
Lead Finder plan Pro or above, and Platform plan Pro or above | Available |
Trial | Available (same access as Pro and Scale) |
Free, Starter | Not available. You'll see an Upgrade to Pro prompt when you click Import New List. |
How to Create an Exclude List (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Open Import New List
You can start from two places. Both open the same screen.
From the Filters panel
In Lead Finder, open the People or Company tab.
In the Filters panel, under List Inclusion / Exclusion, click [+] next to People List or Company List.
Open the Exclude lists dropdown.
Scroll to the last row and click Import New List.
From the Saved tab
Go to the Saved tab and click Create New List.
Click Import New List.
Step 2: Upload Your CSV File
Drag and drop your CSV into the upload area, or click to browse.
Click Next. It stays disabled until a valid file is uploaded.
Don't have a file ready? Click Try sample file at the bottom left to download a ready-made CSV.
Step 3: Name Your List and Map Your Fields
List details
List Name: Uses your file name by default. You can change it. Each list name must be unique.
Share with: Choose Private (Only me), Team, or Public. Private is selected by default.
Map your columns
For each Saleshandy field, pick the matching column from the Your CSV Fields dropdown.
Check the Preview column to make sure the values look right.
Make sure the required fields for your list type are mapped (see CSV Requirements & Limits below).
Only mapped fields are added to your list.
Tip: Besides the required fields, you can map any other field shown on the mapping screen. Mapped fields show up with your values in the Saved tab. If you skip a field, you can still reveal or enrich it later from the Saved tab.
Remove or bring back fields
Click the delete icon to clear a field you don't need.
To bring back a removed field, click + Add More and select it.
Click Next to continue.
Step 4: Review the Match and Create Your List
Wait a few seconds while Lead Finder matches your list (usually 1–5 seconds).
Review the Total Records, Matched, and Unmatched counts.
To see why some rows didn't match, click the download icon next to Unmatched to get a CSV report.
Click Done.
You'll see "Lead Finder List created successfully." Only matched records are added to your list.
Important points:
If no records matched, Done stays disabled. Click Back and check your field mapping.
Closing the screen with X at any point cancels the import, and no list is created.
How Exclude List Works in Your Search
The best part: you don't need to select anything. Lead Finder excludes your imported leads automatically.
Once you import your list, every matched lead is saved in your Saved tab with an Imported tag.
The Net New tab in Lead Finder always hides leads that are already in your Saved tab.
So your imported leads never show up in Net New, and you only see fresh leads you don't have yet.
Example: You import 5,000 contacts from Apollo. Open the Net New tab and run your search. You'll see only people you don't already have, with no extra filter needed.
Using Include and Exclude Lists Manually (Optional)
You can still pick a list yourself when you want more control over a search.
In the Filters panel, click [+] next to People List or Company List.
To see only the leads in your list, check it under Include lists.
To hide the leads in your list, check it under Exclude lists.
How filters combine:
If you select more than one list in the same dropdown, Lead Finder uses OR logic. Leads in any of those lists are included (or excluded).
Include lists and Exclude lists work together with your other filters (like job title or location) using AND logic.
How Matching Works
People Lists
Lead Finder checks each row of your CSV against the Saleshandy database in this order:
Priority | Identifier | Notes |
1 | LinkedIn URL | Most accurate. Enough on its own. |
2 | First Name + Last Name + Company Domain | Used when there's no LinkedIn URL or it doesn't match. |
Important points:
If a row has no value for one identifier, Lead Finder moves on to the next one.
A row is unmatched only when none of the identifiers match.
The more fields you add, the better your match results.
Company Lists
For Company lists, Lead Finder checks each row in this order:
Priority | Identifier | Notes |
1 | Company LinkedIn URL | Most accurate. Enough on its own. |
2 | Company Name + Company Domain/Website | Used when there's no Company LinkedIn URL or it doesn't match. |
If your CSV has only a Company Domain/Website or only a Company Name, Lead Finder still tries to match it. Adding both the name and the domain gives you better results.
Understanding Your Match Results
Result | What it means |
Total Records | All rows in your CSV |
Matched | Rows found in the Saleshandy database. Only these are added to your list. |
Unmatched | Rows that couldn't be matched. Download the report to see the reason for each row. |
Reasons in the unmatched report:
No matching identifier: The row had nothing to look up.
No matching lead found in database: The row had an identifier, but Saleshandy has no matching profile.
Duplicate profile: An earlier row in your file has the same LinkedIn URL. Only the first one is matched.
What Happens After You Import?
How to Identify Imported Leads
Every imported record gets an Imported badge on the lead or company record in the Saved tab. This badge is added automatically and can't be edited.
You can also spot imported data by the Unverified label next to any email that came from your CSV.
Your Data Is Shown as Uploaded
Mapped fields show the values from your CSV.
Imported emails show an Unverified label.
Didn't map a field? You can still enrich it from the Saved tab. Fields you didn't map show the usual actions: Reveal Email, Reveal Phone, Reveal Personal Email, or Enrich Full Profile.
Saleshandy Data Takes Priority
When you reveal or enrich a field, Saleshandy's data replaces your imported value.
If you had already revealed a lead before importing, your CSV doesn't overwrite it.
A lead that's already in another list is still added to your new list.
Taking Action on Imported Leads
Action | Available before enrichment? |
Save to List (single lead) | Yes. The lead is enriched as part of the action. |
Save as Prospect (single lead) | No. Available once the lead is enriched. |
Add to Sequence (single lead) | No. Available once the lead is enriched. |
Add to Sequence (bulk) | Yes. Imported leads are enriched first, then added. |
CSV Requirements & Limits
Required fields
List type | Your CSV must include |
People | A LinkedIn URL, or First Name + Last Name + Company Name or Company Domain/Website |
Company | At least one of: Company LinkedIn URL, Company Domain/Website, or Company Name |
File limits
Requirement | Limit |
Format | CSV (.csv), UTF-8 encoded |
Maximum file size | 25 MB |
Maximum records | 10,000 |
Maximum columns | 100 |
Column headers | Must be unique |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get charged credits for importing a list?
Do I get charged credits for importing a list?
No. Importing and matching are free. Unmatched rows are simply left out of your list.
Does my CSV need a LinkedIn URL?
Does my CSV need a LinkedIn URL?
No. For People, a LinkedIn URL, or First Name + Last Name + Company Name/Domain is enough. For Companies, a Company LinkedIn URL, Company Domain/Website, or Company Name will work.
Who can see my imported list?
Who can see my imported list?
You decide when you create it: Private (Only me), Team, or Public.
Can I use the same list to include leads instead of excluding them?
Can I use the same list to include leads instead of excluding them?
Yes. Every imported list appears under both Include lists and Exclude lists. Pick the one you need for each search.
How is Exclude List different from CSV Enrichment?
How is Exclude List different from CSV Enrichment?
Exclude List matches your file and creates a list to include or exclude in searches, for free. CSV Enrichment adds verified contact and company data to your file, and uses credits.
Why is the Next button disabled?
Why is the Next button disabled?
On the upload screen: No valid file has been uploaded yet.
On the mapping screen: A required field isn't mapped, the List Name is empty or already used, or the column mapped to Email has no valid emails.
Why was my file rejected?
Why was my file rejected?
Message | What to do |
This file is not a valid CSV. | Upload a comma-separated (.csv) file. |
File exceeds 25 MB size limit. | Reduce the file size and try again. |
File exceeds the 10,000 record limit. | Reduce the number of rows and try again. |
File exceeds the 100 column limit. | Reduce the number of columns and try again. |
Your file has no data rows. | Upload a CSV with at least one data row. |
The uploaded file has duplicate column headers. | Make each column header unique and upload again. |
File encoding is not supported. | Save your file as a UTF-8 encoded CSV. |
Is my uploaded data secure?
Is my uploaded data secure?
Yes. Uploaded CSVs are encrypted at rest (AES-256) and in transit (HTTPS/TLS 1.3), and are covered by Saleshandy's GDPR, SOC 2, and CCPA compliance.
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