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Sync Leads and Contacts with Google Contacts for Two-Way Updates

Connect your Sierra Interactive CRM to Google Contacts through API Nation so your leads and contacts stay in sync on both platforms.

 

Table of Contents

  1. Why This Feature Matters
  2. Before You Begin
  3. Step-by-Step Instructions
  4. Best Practices
  5. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Why This Feature Matters

  • Your leads, everywhere your Google account goes. Synced contacts are available in Gmail and on any device signed into your Google account, so you can reach a lead without opening the CRM.
  • Know who's calling. With leads in Google Contacts, incoming calls from leads display a name instead of an unknown number, so you can answer prepared.
  • Two-way accuracy. The sync works in both directions, so contact details updated on either platform stay aligned without manual re-entry.

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Before You Begin

  • API Nation account required. The sync is built and managed on API Nation's platform, not inside your CRM. You'll select an API Nation subscription plan when you activate the integration.
  • Google account required. You'll need your Google login credentials to authorize the connection to Google Contacts.
  • CRM login credentials. You'll authorize your Sierra account during setup and must be a Primary Manager or Manager level user with permissions.

⚠️ API Nation and Google Contacts are third-party platforms, and their interfaces may change. If the screens you see differ from these steps, refer to API Nation's own documentation for the most current instructions.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Go to apination.com in your web browser.
  2. Use the search bar to search for Sierra Interactive. This displays all available Sierra integrations.
  3. Select the Google Contacts integration to view its sync options.
  4. Authorize both accounts when prompted. This gives API Nation secure permission to move data between your CRM and Google Contacts.
  5. Configure the sync direction. A two-way sync keeps both platforms updated; changes made on either side carry over to the other.
  6. Review the field mappings to confirm data lands in the right place — for example, that the Email field in your CRM maps to the Email field in Google Contacts.
  7. Activate the integration. If you're not already an API Nation subscriber, you'll choose a plan at this step. Once active, your leads and contacts sync automatically based on the rules you set.

For a visual walkthrough, watch the video tutorial at the top of this article.

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Best Practices

  • Clean your CRM data first.  Merge duplicate leads and correct errors before your first sync so Google Contacts receives accurate records — with a two-way sync, errors travel in both directions.
  • Choose your sync direction deliberately. Two-way syncing means edits made in Google Contacts update your CRM. If you want your CRM to remain the single source of truth, consider a one-way sync instead.
  • Monitor your record usage. Each contact created or updated counts toward your API Nation plan limits. Check your usage in your API Nation dashboard as your contact volume grows.

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • Contacts aren't appearing in Google Contacts.
    A lost connection is the most common cause. Open your API Nation dashboard and re-authenticate both the Sierra and Google connections.
  • Duplicate contacts on either platform.
    Review your field mapping settings in API Nation, and clean up existing duplicates on both platforms before re-running the sync. Duplicates present before the first sync tend to multiply in a two-way setup.
  • Sync stopped after working previously.
    You may have reached your API Nation plan's record limit. Check your usage in your API Nation account and upgrade your plan if needed.

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