How to Turn an XLS File into Thousands of Marketing Creatives
For most marketers, an Excel (XLS) spreadsheet is a tool for analysis or organization. But imagine if every row in your file could instantly become a unique visual, a personalized ad banner, or a custom video. This is the promise of “creative generation from XLS files.” This technology is one of the best-kept secrets of top-performing marketing teams. It allows you to move from slow and tedious manual production to automated, data-driven bulk visual generation. It’s not magic, but a smart combination of templates and data. This article explains how this process works and how it can unlock previously unattainable personalization and testing strategies.
part 1: the basic principle – data driving design
your XLS file: the source of truth for your variations
The starting point is a file you already know: a simple spreadsheet. Each column in this file represents a variable element of your creative. A column for the “Headline,” one for the “Price,” one for the “Product Image URL,” one for the “Promo Code”… Each row, on the other hand, represents a unique creative to be generated. This simple method allows you to prepare hundreds, or even thousands, of creative variations in a familiar format, without any design skills.
the intelligent template: the mold that receives the data
The second key element is the intelligent template. It’s a design model created beforehand in an automation platform. This template contains placeholders (“variables”) that correspond exactly to the column headers of your XLS file. The designer defines the appearance, position, and style of each element, while locking the brand aspects that should not change (logo, font, etc.). This template is the “mold” that ensures every generated creative will be perfectly on-brand.
part 2: the process – from spreadsheet to campaign in a few clicks
step 1: prepare your data in Excel or Google Sheets
You start by structuring your data. For example, for an e-commerce campaign, you export a list of products with their name, price, and the link to their image. You add a column for a tagline. Your file is ready.
step 2: connect your XLS file to your template
In your automation platform, you select the template you want to use. You then import your XLS file. The platform automatically maps the columns of your file with the corresponding variables in the template. You see a real-time preview of what your creatives will look like.
step 3: launch the bulk generation
One click on “Generate,” and the platform gets to work. It goes through each row of your XLS file, takes the data, injects it into the template, and produces a final image or video file for each row. In minutes, you get a folder containing all your unique creatives, named and ready to be used.
part 3: concrete use cases for marketing
mass personalization for e-commerce
Export your product catalog into an XLS file and instantly generate a promotional banner for each item. This is the end of generic visuals. Each product gets its own ad, with its photo, name, and price, all in a consistent design.
hyper-targeted ad campaigns
Create ad campaigns that speak directly to your audience. Prepare an XLS file with the names of the 100 largest cities, an iconic image for each, and a localized headline. Your automatic visual creation tool for Facebook Ads can then generate 100 perfectly adapted ads for precise geotargeting.
A/B testing on an unparalleled scale
“Creative generation from XLS files” is the ultimate optimization weapon. Create a file with 50 headline variations and 20 images. The platform generates the 1,000 creatives you need for your automatic visual creation tool for ad A/B testing, allowing you to discover the highest-performing combinations.
Brandeploy: integrated and secure generation from XLS
Specialized tools like Bannerbear or Placid are excellent for “creative generation from XLS files.” However, they often operate as isolated tools, disconnected from your brand assets and approval workflows. Brandeploy integrates this functionality within a complete brand platform.
With Brandeploy, your templates are natively connected to your DAM, ensuring the use of approved assets. The generation process is framed by strict governance rules. Every creative generated is immediately organized and available to the rest of the company. By combining the raw power of data-driven generation with the security and consistency of a centralized platform, Brandeploy allows you to leverage this technology strategically, not just tactically.
Don’t let your data sleep in spreadsheets.
Discover how Brandeploy can transform your XLS files into powerful visual marketing campaigns.
Book a personalized demo of our solution today through our contact form.
