What is Auto-Import Contacts?

Auto-Import Contacts is a marketing strategy that traces its roots back to the early days of social networking.

With the rise of social media platforms, developers noticed a significant issue - new users often found themselves in an 'empty room' setting where they had no friends or connections on the platform. That's where Auto-Import Contacts comes in. This tactic is all about helping users to more easily connect with their friends or contacts who are already using the platform, by automatically importing their contacts from a different social network, email account, or phone contact book.

This tactic has become increasingly prevalent as a tool to improve user retention. User retention here means efforts to keep new users engaged and active on the platform. Auto-Import Contacts solves the issue of the discouraging 'empty room' scenario, facilitating the building of networks that keep users interested and invested while fostering a sense of familiarity and ease. Users are more likely to stay and interact when they can automatically find friends or contacts already on the platform, which leads to a healthier, more active user base.

Examples of Auto-Import Contacts

1. Facebook Friend Finder: When you sign up for a Facebook account, it suggests you import your email contacts to find out who among them is already on Facebook. This enables you to connect fast, creating a friendlier, familiar environment thus encouraging continued use of the platform.

2. LinkedIn Connections: LinkedIn encourages new users to import their email contacts in order to connect with people they already know, pushing for prompt network building and engagement.

3. Twitter's 'Who to Follow:' In the initial stages of joining Twitter, it asks to access your email or phone contacts to suggest potential accounts you might be interested in following.

4. Instagram's 'Connect to Facebook:' Instagram offers users to connect their Instagram account to Facebook (if a user has one), to pull in their Facebook friends to their Instagram follower base.

5. Snapchat's 'Add from Contacts:' Snapchat has a feature to add friends directly from your phone's contact book, simplifying the process of building a network.

Marketing Tactics Similar to Auto-Import Contacts

1. User Onboarding: Similar to Auto-Import Contacts, user onboarding also focuses on improving the initial user experience and driving engagement.

2. Push and In-App Notifications: This tactic is about keeping users informed and engaged, often complementing auto-import contacts by reminding users about friends or popular content.

3. Social Proof: Testimonials or reviews might also encourage new users to stay and interact on a platform, the same way easy access to their contacts does.

4. Recommendation Systems: Like auto-import of contacts, recommendation systems aim to personalize the user’s experience, encouraging them to stick around by suggesting relevant content.

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