An e-mail based content import system imports content into a content management system using an e-mail application. A user selects values for address fields of an e-mail, enters a content item in a body of the e-mail, enters content metadata in a body text of the e-mail, and selects files as an attachment to the e-mail. The user sends the e-mail to the content management system. An e-mail processing engine processes the e-mail body to extract the content item and content metadata and maps the values of the address fields to content metadata to generate content comprising the content item, content metadata, and associated files. The mapping of the system comprises a predetermined customizable mapping of the address fields to the content metadata.