How to Bulk Import Links from an Excel Spreadsheet or CSV

❗ NOTE: Please ensure you're running Lasso v318 or later before starting the import process.

Are you getting started with Lasso and want to add your existing links all at once? Are you a pSEO expert who wants to bulk-add links as you're generating content? Either way, you've come to the right place!

We partnered with WP All Import to make it possible to bulk upload links to Lasso, including all of the Lasso attributes you'll need to make beautiful Displays, too!

Here's how to make it happen. 👇

Preparing Your Spreadsheet for Import

You can import via an Excel (.xlsx) or CSV (.csv) file. Whichever one you choose, you'll need to ensure that the data in your spreadsheet is compatible with Lasso.

You can view a sample spreadsheet in Google Sheets right here.

We've also created a table to help show what values can be imported and how to format them for a successful import.

In the table below, you'll find:

Element: The information in WP All Import that you'll use to define what your spreadsheet columns refer to. Note: The Elements don't have to be the exact column names of your spreadsheets. You can name your columns whatever you'd like!
Lasso Correlation: What each Element will become when imported to Lasso. For more information on each Lasso Correlation, please see the table here.
Where to Add: This is where you can find the input options in WP All Import when mapping your Elements to your spreadsheet columns.
Accepted Values: This is the format of the information you can include in your spreadsheet for each Element.

*Indicates required Elements. (Hint: The only two requirements are title and lasso_custom_redirect.)

Element	Lasso Correlation	Where to Add	Accepted Values
title*	Name	Title & Content > First text box	Text
slug	Permalink	Other Lasso Options > Post Slug	Text
categories	Groups	Taxonomies, Categories, Tags	Text (Separate multiple groups with `,` or `\|`, then specify this when importing.)
lasso_fields	Custom Fields	Automatic - No additional action is required	Text (See "Importing Lasso Fields" below for more details.)
lasso_custom_redirect*	Primary Destination URL	Custom Fields	URL
lasso_custom_thumbnail	Image	Custom Fields	URL
buy_btn_text	Primary Button Text	Custom Fields	Text
open_new_tab	Primary NewWindow / Tab Toggle	Custom Fields	0 or 1 (0 is off. 1 is on.)
enable_nofollow	Primary NoFollow / NoIndex Toggle	Custom Fields	0 or 1 (0 is off. 1 is on.)
second_btn_url	Secondary Destination URL	Custom Fields	URL
second_btn_text	Secondary Button Text	Custom Fields	Text
open_new_tab2	Secondary NewWindow / Tab Toggle	Custom Fields	0 or 1 (0 is off. 1 is on.)
enable_nofollow2	Secondary NoFollow / NoIndex Toggle	Custom Fields	0 or 1 (0 is off. 1 is on.)
custom_theme	Display Theme	Custom Fields	Cactus, Cutter, Flow, Geek, Lab, Llama, Money, or Splash
badge_text	Badge Text	Custom Fields	Text
price	Price Value	Custom Fields	Text
show_price	Show Price Toggle	Custom Fields	0 or 1 (0 is off. 1 is on.)
affiliate_desc	Description	Custom Fields	HTML and Text
disclosure_text	Disclosure	Custom Fields	Text
show_disclosure	Show Disclosure Toggle	Custom Fields	0 or 1 (0 is off. 1 is on.)
enable_sponsored	Sponsored Toggle	Custom Fields	0 or 1 (0 is off. 1 is on.)

Importing Lasso Fields

The good news about importing Lasso Fields is that it happens automatically when you import with WP All Import!

You don't need to map any information to make it happen. All you need to do is ensure everything is formatted properly in your spreadsheet.

Formatting Fields

You'll need to format your Lasso Fields in this fashion:

field_type >> field_name >> field_value

If you'd like to include multiple Fields, you can add them like this:

field_type >> field_name >> field_value || field_type >> field_name >> field_value

Each Field is separated by || with no spaces between the two individual bars.

Field Structure

Each Field in your spreadsheet contains three attributes:

field_type
field_name
field_value

field_type

field_type can be any of the available Lasso Custom Fields. You'll need to structure them in this format:

Short Text: text
Long Text: textarea
Number: number
Rating: rating
Bulleted List: bulleted_list
Numbered List: numbered_list

Note: Lasso has three default Fields: Primary Rating, Pros, and Cons. You will need to use rating for Primary Rating and textarea for Pros and Cons.

field_name

field_name corresponds to the name of your Custom Field in Lasso. This can be an existing Field, or it can be a new one that will automatically be created with the spreadsheet import.

field_value

field_value is the specific information you'd like to include for that product.

Note: If you want to include a new line for your Long Text, Bulleted List, or Numbered List, you can add that in your spreadsheet by hitting Alt+Enter on PC or Command+Return on Mac.

Examples

Example 1:

Let's say you're creating a Number Field called "Number of Pockets", and your product has 12 pockets. In this instance, you'd have this information:

field_type: number
field_name: Number of Pockets
field_value: 12

Put it all together, and it'd look like this in your spreadsheet:

number >> Number of Pockets >> 12

Example 2:

Let's say you're using the Pros Field:

field_type: textarea
field_name: Pros
field_value: Value, Customization, and Appearance

Put it all together, and it'd look like this in your spreadsheet:

textarea >> Pros >> Value Customization Appearance

Note: Please also see the lasso_fields column in our sample spreadsheet in Google Sheets for an example of each Field.

Importing Your Links

Whether you're using an Excel or CSV file, you'll need to map the data manually to ensure that Lasso knows which attributes are which.

For example, let's say you have a column called Product Link. When you import, you can map this to the lasso_custom_redirect Element to show that it should become the Primary Destination URL in Lasso.

Importing an Excel File

Walkthrough Video

📹 Click here to view a walkthrough video of importing links via an Excel spreadsheet.

Step 1: Create a New Import

In WordPress, navigate to All Import. Then, choose Manage Imports.

Click Start a new import in the WP All Import dashboard.

Click Upload a file, then choose the Excel file you want to use.

Once the file is uploaded, you'll see a section for New items. Click Posts underneath the New Items tab, and choose Lasso from the dropdown menu.

Click Continue to Step 2.

Step 2: Review Import File

Step 2 is the easiest part! All you have to do is click Continue to Step 3.

Step 3: Map Your Elements to Your Column Headings

Now, it's time to map the columns in your file to your future Lasso Links and Displays. You'll see a list of your spreadsheet's column headings on the right-hand side and the corresponding Elements they can become on the left-hand side.

We'll walk through the process using some of the most popular Lasso attributes:

Title
URL
Image
Categories (Groups)
Slug

Title

First, drag and drop the column heading you'll use for your Lasso product Name. In this case, it's the <title> attribute.

URL and Image

Next, scroll down to the Custom Fields section. In the first Name text box, choose lasso_custom_redirect. In the first Value text box, drag and drop the column heading corresponding to your Primary Destination URL. In this example, it's the <url> attribute.

Then, click Add Custom Field.

Repeat the process using lasso_custom_thumbnail and the column heading you'll use for images. In this example, we'll use the <image url> attribute.

Categories (Groups)

Under Categories, Taxonomies, Tags, click Show "private" taxonomies.

Then, choose Lasso Categories. Select Each Lasso has multiple Lasso Categories.

Then, drag and drop the column heading for your Groups into the text box. In this example, it's the <categories> attribute.

Note: In your spreadsheet or CSV, you can add multiple categories and separate them with a comma , or a bar |. Whichever you choose, please make sure you specify this in the Separated by text box.

Slug

Scroll down until you see the Other Lasso Options section. Under Post Slug, drag and drop the column heading for your Permalink. In this example, it's the <slug> attribute.

Click Continue to Step 4 at the bottom of the page.

Step 4: Import Settings

You can keep most of the defaults on the next page. However, please uncheck the option for Skip lasso if their data in this import file has not changed.

Please also click the Auto-detect button towards the top of the screen by Unique identifier.

Then, click Continue at the bottom of the page.

Step 5: Finalize

Click the Confirm & Run Import button.

Once the green progress bar completes and reveals the Import Complete text, you're all done!

Your Links will now appear when you return to your Lasso Dashboard. 🎉

Importing a CSV File

Video Walkthrough

📹 Click here to view a walkthrough video of importing links via a CSV.