Most directory operators don't start from zero. They start with a spreadsheet, a legacy database, or a CRM full of business records that need to become listings without weeks of manual copy-paste.
The import flow, step by step
Why the separation between "save" and "run" matters
Import mistakes are expensive to undo at scale — hundreds of duplicate or mis-mapped listings are a real cleanup job. Separating "define the mapping" from "execute the import" means you can review exactly what will happen before anything is created, and an AI agent doing this on your behalf has the same safety margin.
Common mapping pitfalls
After the import
Freshly imported listings are a good candidate for draft status rather than immediate publishing — spot-check a sample, fix systematic mapping issues once rather than listing by listing, then publish in bulk. From there, the same recurring tasks that keep a directory fresh (listing audits, category rebalancing) apply equally to imported and manually-created listings.
Migrating data well is what turns "I have a spreadsheet" into "I have a directory" in an afternoon instead of a month.