WordPress does not provide a built-in importer for a spreadsheet of proposed posts. Its documented Tools → Import screen handles WordPress export files and imports from other platforms. To turn CSV rows into posts, pages, or drafts, install a CSV-import plugin, map your columns to WordPress fields, test a few rows, and then run the full import.
Choose what each CSV row should create
Before selecting a plugin, decide what one spreadsheet row represents and where it belongs in WordPress:
- Post: a normal blog entry.
- Page: a static site page.
- Custom post type: an entry managed by a theme or another plugin.
A planning file often contains a title and an idea note rather than finished copy. Map the title to the post title and the note to the content or excerpt field. If the importer supports status, set the records to draft so ideas cannot become public accidentally.
Select an importer that matches your data
CSV plugins do not share one universal column format. Some require exact heading names, while others provide a visual mapping screen. Compare the documented capabilities with the fields in your file and the post type you selected.
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| Workflow | How fields are assigned | Useful documented capabilities | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSV Importer | Use its prescribed column headings; columns may appear in any order. | Titles, body, excerpts, post types, categories, custom fields, taxonomies, and comments. | Your headings must follow the plugin’s conventions. |
| Import WP | Create an importer, choose CSV or XML, and map source fields to WordPress fields. | The free plugin covers core WordPress types; the listing says Pro adds custom fields, custom post types, custom taxonomies, scheduled imports, and other features. | Advanced requirements may need Pro; review the current listing. |
| WP Ultimate CSV Importer | Choose a content type and visually map columns. | The listing covers titles, content, excerpts, authors, dates, status, categories, tags, taxonomies, images, custom fields, SEO metadata, and custom post types. | Capabilities and compatibility can change, so confirm them before installation. |
| Really Simple CSV Importer | Use WordPress-style headings such as post_title and post_category. |
Supports headings for posts and custom taxonomies; an ID field can update an existing post. | An empty cell means “keep it,” not “delete it,” according to the listing. |
For a plain idea list, a prescribed-header plugin can be quick. A mapping-based importer is more flexible when you need custom fields, taxonomies, images, SEO data, update rules, logs, or scheduled runs. Check whether those features are included in the edition you plan to use.
Prepare the CSV correctly
Use one row per record
Put field names in the first row and one proposed post on each following row. Remove blank records and decide how categories, tags, authors, dates, and status should be represented before importing.
Match the selected plugin’s headings
For CSV Importer, the documented basic headings include:
| Heading | Use |
|---|---|
csv_post_title |
Post title |
csv_post_post |
Post body |
csv_post_type |
post, page, or another supported post type |
csv_post_excerpt |
Excerpt |
csv_post_categories |
Category names or IDs |
The same plugin also documents columns for custom fields, taxonomies, and comments. Other importers use different names: Really Simple CSV Importer documents headings such as post_title, post_category, post_tags, and tax_{taxonomy}. Do not mix conventions unless the importer specifically maps them.
Handle encoding and punctuation
- Save the file as UTF-8 when it contains accented characters, Asian scripts, or other non-ASCII text. CSV Importer specifically documents UTF-8 handling for characters such as diacritics and Han characters.
- Escape commas and quotation marks according to normal CSV rules. A note such as
10 tips, tools, and templatesmust be enclosed and escaped correctly so the comma does not create another column. - Keep date, status, category, and taxonomy values consistent throughout the file.
Example idea-list CSV
Using the CSV Importer headings, a minimal file could look like this:
csv_post_title,csv_post_post,csv_post_type,csv_post_excerpt,csv_post_categories
"How to Back Up a Phone","Outline steps for Android and iPhone backups",post,"Planning notes for a future guide","Mobile"
"Home Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Checklist","Collect symptoms and fixes for common connection problems",post,"Draft checklist","Networking"This example contains planning notes, not finished articles. Import them as drafts if your chosen plugin supports a status field or lets you set the status during mapping.
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Import the file safely
- Back up the site. Keep a restorable database and files backup before a bulk change.
- Install and open the importer. Plugins generally add their own import screen; follow the plugin’s current setup labels.
- Upload the CSV and choose the target. Select posts, pages, or the required custom post type.
- Map every column. Assign title, content or excerpt, status, categories, tags, dates, authors, and custom fields. Leave a field unmapped only when you intentionally do not want it imported.
- Run a small sample first. Use a few rows rather than the entire spreadsheet.
- Inspect the result in WordPress. Check titles, body text, excerpts, categories, dates, status, and custom fields. Also confirm that quotation marks, accented characters, and line breaks survived the import.
- Run the full file. Review the plugin’s duplicate and update settings before starting. Some tools match existing records by an ID or another rule; others may create new records each time.
- Review logs and publication status. Resolve errors, remove accidental duplicates, and verify that no idea was published unintentionally.
Updating an existing import versus creating new posts
Repeat imports require an explicit matching strategy. Really Simple CSV Importer documents updating an existing post with an ID field. If your spreadsheet does not contain a stable identifier, inspect the selected plugin’s documented duplicate or update behavior before re-running it; otherwise, a second run may create additional posts instead of editing the originals.
Common problems and fixes
Columns appear in the wrong fields
Check the header spelling and the plugin’s mapping screen. A heading accepted by one importer may be ignored by another.
Text is garbled
Re-export or resave the spreadsheet as UTF-8, then import again. This is especially important for accented or non-Latin characters.
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Commas split one note into several fields
Open the CSV in a text editor and verify that values containing commas or quotation marks are correctly quoted and escaped.
Rows are published immediately
Stop the import and inspect the status mapping. Set the target to draft where available, then remove or change any records that were published accidentally.
Categories or custom taxonomies are missing
Confirm that the destination taxonomy exists, that its field is supported by the plugin edition, and that the values use the format the importer documents.
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A repeat run creates duplicates
Do not run the full file again until you understand the plugin’s matching rule. Add and map a stable ID if the importer supports updates, or delete the test records and restart with a controlled sample.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which approach fits a typical editorial spreadsheet?
- Titles and notes only: use a simple importer, map notes to content or excerpt, and set records to draft.
- Custom post types or taxonomies: choose a tool that explicitly supports those fields in the edition you will install.
- Images, SEO metadata, or scheduled imports: verify those capabilities and any paid-plan requirement in the current plugin listing.
- Recurring spreadsheet updates: prioritize documented matching, scheduling, history, and logs over a one-time upload workflow.
The official WordPress.org CSV importer directory is a starting point for finding alternatives, but each plugin’s documentation remains the authority for its headings, limits, and compatibility.
The Bottom Line
To import post ideas, use a CSV importer plugin rather than WordPress’s built-in Tools → Import screen. Match your headers or field mappings to that plugin, save multilingual files as UTF-8, test a few rows as drafts, and verify duplicate and update behavior before importing the complete spreadsheet.
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