Guide: Export contacts
This page: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/people/export-contacts
Topic: People
Time: about 2 minutes
Who can do it: Owner, Administrator or Manager
Author: https://anantgupta.xyz (Anant Gupta, founder of CommentWatchDog)
Start in the app: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox/people
Result when done: A CSV of the people you filtered, with what they gave you, where it came from, their tags and every custom field.
Context: Export downloads a CSV of everyone the list shows: the whole page, a filter, an automation's people, a search or a selection. The file holds name, username, email, phone, when and where it was given, what they replied to, whether they follow you, first seen, last active, where they came from, tags and page, then one column per custom field. People who asked to stop are left out unless you include them.

Before you start:
1. Export is on Growth and above.
2. People gave these in a chat for what the automation offered; anything else you send them is on your own consent basis.
3. Filter first: the export follows the list.

Steps:
Step 1 of 3: Narrow the list to who you want.
Where: People: pick a view, a tag or a Came from entry in the rail, use Filter or the search, or tick a few rows.
Link: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox/people (Open People)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-people-filter.en.webp (The list narrowed to one tag, picked in the rail.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-people-filter-phone.en.webp (On a phone the title holds the views; here one tag is picked.)
You should see: The title and its count say who is on the list.

Step 2 of 3: Press Export.
Where: Export, at the right above the list. With rows ticked it is under Actions instead, with the number of people.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-people.en.webp (Export, above the list.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-people-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: Export people opens: it says whose CSV this is, and lists the columns.

Step 3 of 3: Check what the file will hold, then download.
Where: Export people says whose CSV it is (A CSV of everyone on the page, or of the view, filter or selection) and lists the Columns. When someone on the list asked to stop, the dialog adds Include people who asked to stop: they stay out unless you tick it. Download CSV starts the download.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-people-export.en.webp (Export people: the scope, the columns, Download CSV.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/dm-people-export-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The CSV downloads.

If something is off:
Problem: Export opens the plan dialog
Fix: Export is on Growth and above. The dialog names the plan that opens it.
Problem: Some people are missing from the file
Fix: People who asked to stop are left out by default; tick Include people who asked to stop.
Problem: A custom field has no column
Fix: Every custom field gets a column; one created after the export needs a new export.

Common questions:
Question: Which plan can export contacts to CSV?
Answer: Growth and every plan above it.
Question: What columns are in the export?
Answer: Name, username, email, phone, when and where it was given, what they replied to, follows you, first seen, last active, came from, tags and page, then one column per custom field.
Question: Are people who asked to stop in the export?
Answer: Not by default. Tick Include people who asked to stop in the Export people dialog to add them.

Related guides:
- Find anyone your automations talked to: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/people/find-anyone-your-automations-talked-to
- Custom fields: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/people/custom-fields
- Open a contact: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/people/open-a-contact

Plain text of this guide: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/people/export-contacts.md
All guides for assistants: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/llms.txt