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      Import Products into Describely

      Hit the ground running by importing your product data from a CSV, Excel, or PDF file, or an available connector!

      In this article

      📌 Overview

      Importing your product data is the first step to creating optimized, on-brand content with Describely. You can import products using a CSV, Excel workbook, or PDF file, OR connect directly with your eCommerce platform using one of our built-in store connectors.

      In this quick guide, we’ll walk you through how to upload your product catalog from a file and get everything organized so you’re ready to generate high-quality content.

      If you're using a store connector, check out this article for a how-to guide just for you. 😉

      🚀 How to Get Started

      1. Click "Product Catalogs", then "Import Products"

        From the left sidebar, navigate to your Product Catalogs, click Import Products, and choose the option to Import from File (unless using a store connector).

        NOTE: We support CSV (.csv), Excel Workbook (.xlsx), or PDF (.pdf) files.

      2. Name Your Catalog

        • Name your catalog anything you’d like.
        • Use one master catalog for all products, or separate catalogs by product category or launch for better organization.

      3.     If Importing a PDF (otherwise, skip to step 4)

        • Describely will attempt to identify the products in your file and their respective data!
        • Enter any additional instructions to help the AI understand what details you want to extract, and how you'd like them structured.
        • Consider that the product data found will be brought into your catalog as specific fields or "columns", organized by product title.
        • If needed, try instructing the AI to re-name the fields it finds to match your internal system, only extract data points you care about, help it understand your document and where the product titles live, and more. 
      4.     Map Your Spreadsheet Columns

        • Match your columns to Describely’s default fields.

        • Title is mandatory—make sure it’s in your file.

        • Include as much product data as you can (like descriptions, specifications, SEO keywords) to help the AI generate detailed, accurate content.

        • You can map image URLs in a single comma-separated cell or across multiple columns. Image URLs must be publicly accessible so Describely can fetch them.

      5.   Import Custom Columns (if needed)

        • Choose which additional data points you'd like to use in content.
        • If you don’t see all your specs in the default fields, no problem—you can map custom attributes in the next step.
        • Examples include material, size, color, or any other specifications you'd like to include in your product content.
        • You can also bring in specs that are important to filter/sort by (example: price, store visibility, etc.)

      6.  Select & Toggle Column Usage in Content

        • Choose which additional data points you'd like to use in content.
        • Toggle on/off whether the AI should use each data point for generating content or just for internal catalog organization.

      You’re done! Your product catalog is now imported and ready for content generation and optimization.

      💡 Pro Tips

      • See our deep dive guide below to ensure your file aligns with Describely’s requirements. This avoids import errors.

      • Separate catalogs by category, seasonal launch, or assigned teammate for better product management.

      • The Keywords field can be especially helpful for SEO content optimization—don’t skip it!

      • Make sure your image URLs are public—Describely won’t be able to access private links (e.g., Google Drive without permissions).

      📚 Learn More

      🛠 Troubleshooting

      • Can’t import your file? Check that your file contains a “Title” column, row 1 contains column headers, your file name doesn't have special characters, and your file is less than 100MB.

      • Missing images? Double-check that your image URLs are public, and multiple URLs in one cell are comma separated.

      • Fields missing after upload? Use the custom field mapping option on the second step. If needed, merge new data into an existing catalog.

      • Data not being used in content? Make sure these fields were toggled on to be used in generations. Otherwise, check your content rules to guide the AI on what to include!

      Still stuck? Check out our FAQ on importing product data here. We're here to help at support@describely.ai.