# Add attributes to your list

> Store extra details about each contact - names, dates and more - to personalise emails and build segments.

Source: https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/contacts-audiences/add-attributes-to-your-list
Updated: 2026-06-10

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Attributes are the extra pieces of information you store about each contact - first name, company, birthday, city, whatever's useful. They power two of the most valuable things you can do: personalising your emails with merge tags, and building segments to target the right people. This guide shows you how to add them.

## Add an attribute

1. Select **Audience**, then **Contacts**.
2. Click the **gear icon** on the right of the page.
3. Choose the list, give the attribute a name, and pick its type:
   - **String** - any text field, like first name, last name, company, job title or city.
   - **Date-time** - a date, like a birthday, anniversary or subscription date.
4. Once added, the attribute appears in your contact list and on the list's subscription form. Click the **...** next to a contact and choose **Edit** to set the value for that person.

## What you can do with attributes

- **Personalise** emails with merge tags.
- **Segment** your audience into targeted groups.
- **Collect** the data through your subscription forms.

The pay-off is higher engagement, sharper targeting and a better experience for your subscribers, because the messages they get are actually relevant to them.

## Troubleshooting

**The attribute doesn't appear as a merge tag** - confirm it saved, avoid special characters in the name, and check it's attached to the right list. A refresh or re-login helps.

**Can't create a new attribute** - check your plan's attribute limit, keep names unique within the list, avoid reserved names like "email" or "id", and trim stray spaces.

**Date-time formatting issues** - use the YYYY-MM-DD format, make sure the date is valid, and don't put a birth date in the future.

**Attributes don't import correctly** - your CSV headers must match the attribute names exactly, data types must line up (string vs date-time), and watch for stray spaces. Check the mapping step during import.

**Can't delete or change an attribute** - it may be in use by an active campaign, or you may need higher permissions. Clearing its data first can help.

If an attribute won't cooperate, [open a support ticket](/knowledgebase/getting-started/how-to-create-a-support-ticket-in-mykualo).

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_Source: Kualo Knowledgebase — https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/contacts-audiences/add-attributes-to-your-list · © Kualo Ltd._