---
title: Prepare articles for import
slug: content-marketing-platform/docs/prepare-articles-for-import
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:44:34.767Z
---

You can import your existing articles into Optimizely Content Marketing Platform (CMP) for a holistic view of your content production – past, present, and future.

CMP assigns each article to a [tasks](docId\:W7zf5eJAPZhHgHjzWK_m2) and [campaigns](docId:8UYnEjnQ6qE-7LSSLMZtT) to fit it into the platform's structure and give you a unified experience in finding your previously created content. You can also assign [fields](docId\:rOS7iwGbM6fB7vBXRQR8W) to these articles so they are searchable, like the content you create on the platform.

You can generate tracking [pixels](docId\:h_lPx0R-GvfztYZWp2fNb) for content you create outside the platform and view data from these articles in [Analytics](docId\:S0I_GNXWbK-RSN7nGr-ig), creating a single source of truth for your content performance.

To import your articles, prepare a spreadsheet that lists them in HTML format to render them into a web view like your other CMP-created content.

Your spreadsheet should have the following columns and content:

- **Title** – The task title
  - **Format** – Alphanumeric. Symbols accepted.
  - **Sample value** – *What Is Integrated Marketing?*
- **Description** – A short description of a task
  - **Format** – Alphanumeric. Symbols accepted.
  - **Sample value** – *Companion anchor piece to this:* [https://world.optimizely.com/what-is-content-marketing/](https://world.optimizely.com/what-is-content-marketing/)
- **Due Date** – The due date for a task's completion
  - **Format** – MM/DD/YYYY
  - **Sample value** – *12/08/2024*
- **Campaign** – The campaign to which the task belongs
  - **Format** – The campaign name in CMP (case-sensitive).
  - **Sample value** – *Insights from Marketing Leaders*
- **Workflow Name** – The workflow to which the task belongs
  - **Format** – The workflow name in CMP (not case-sensitive).
  - **Sample value** – *Publish workflow*
- **Article Title** – The article title
  - **Format** – Alphanumeric. Symbols accepted.
  - **Sample value** – *What Is Integrated Marketing?*
- **Article Body** – The HTML body of your article. This can be raw text, but styling does not carry through.
  - **Format** – Alphanumeric. Symbols accepted.
  - **Sample value** – *As a phrase and buzzword, integrated marketing is not new. But it has reached critical importance due to compounding industry challenges, alongside advancements in...*
- **Article Author** – The author of the article
  - **Format** – Alphanumeric. Symbols accepted.
  - **Sample value** – *Jane Doe*
- **Featured Image** – The public URL of the article's featured image
  - **Format** – Public URL.
  - **Sample value** – [https://world.optimizely.com/wp-content/themes/optimizely-v2/assets/images/logos/optimizely-logo-primary-rgb.png](https://world.optimizely.com/wp-content/themes/optimizely-v2/assets/images/logos/optimizely-logo-primary-rgb.png)
- **Publish Date ** – The date of the article publication
  - **Format** – MM/DD/YYYY
  - **Sample value** – *12/14/2024*
- **Publication Channel** – The supported social channel or a feed for your article publication. Accepted values: Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, \[Feed Name].
  - **Format** – The feed or channel name in CMP.
  - **Sample value** – *Twitter, Live Feed*
- **Content Format** – A standard field. You get to decide the values. Ensure values do not contain commas (which are separators).
  - **Format** – Alphanumeric. Symbols accepted except full stop (**.**), forward slash (**/**), or commas.
  - **Sample value** – *Article*
- **Content Pillar** – A standard field. You get to decide the values. Ensure values do not contain commas (which are separators).
  - **Format** – Alphanumeric. Symbols accepted except full stop (**.**), forward slash (**/**), or commas.
  - **Sample value** – *Integrated Marketing, CMP*
- **Journey Stage** – A standard field. You get to decide the values. Ensure values do not contain commas (which are separators).
  - **Format** – Alphanumeric. Symbols accepted except full stop (**.**), forward slash (**/**), or commas (**,**). The values can be comma-separated.
  - **Sample value** – *Top of Funnel*
- **Target Audience** – A standard field. You get to decide the values. Ensure values do not contain commas (which are separators).
  - **Format** – Alphanumeric. Symbols accepted except full stop (**.**), forward slash (**/**), or commas (**,**). The values can be comma-separated.
  - **Sample value** – *Content Marketing, CMO*
- **YourField1** – Placeholder for field groups you create, such as Destination. Ensure values do not contain commas (which are separators). Your implementation partner will fill this in with your taxonomy. 
  - **Format** – Alphanumeric. Symbols accepted except full stop (**.**), forward slash (**/**), or commas (**,**). The values can be comma-separated.
  - **Sample value** – *Insights*
- **Task URL** – For CMP internal use. Leave empty.
- **Status** – For CMP internal use. Leave empty.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**

Although the Publish Date and Publication Channel are not mandatory, adding these adds import time.
:::

Your spreadsheet should look something like this:

![Prepare-articles-2.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/jmmaXQVxCyvpMEUrzbmh0-20260720-145902.png)

![Prepare-articles-3.png](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/SeqEnAcYRZnDqHXWU1lWo-20260720-145902.png)

After you complete your spreadsheet, notify your CMP onboarding team so they can begin importing. Depending on the volume of articles, this can take up to four weeks to complete.