What information is needed in the Excel sheet for audience creation?
Quick answer
Upload a CSV or XLSX that contains at least one column titled Name and Phone Number (91XXXXXXXXXX format). Add any template-variable columns (e.g., amount, due date) for personalisation.
Follow the exact header spellings and remove special characters to avoid upload errors.
When should I use this guide?
Use this guide right before exporting or uploading your audience file to MyOperator’s WhatsApp campaign builder. It prevents the "Invalid header/format" error and ensures contacts auto-save to your Contact Book.
Minimum required column
Column header | Description | Required? |
|---|---|---|
Name | Recipient's Name for personalised message (you have an option of adding a fallback value in case of empty name cell) | ✅ Yes |
Phone Number | Recipient’s WhatsApp number in (91XXXXXXXXXX) format | ✅ Yes |
Optional columns for template variables
If your approved template contains placeholders (e.g., {{1}}, {{2}}), you must include matching columns:
Example template: “Hi {{1}}, your payment of #{{2}} is due on {{3}}.”
Corresponding Excel headers
Excel header | Maps to template | Example value |
|---|---|---|
name | {{1}} | John Doe |
amount | {{2}} | 1250 |
due date | {{3}} | 2025-10-20 |
Formatting rules & common errors
- Phone numbers → always international format (e.g., 919876543210).
- Header names → exactly Phone Number, Name, or your template variables; case-sensitive.
- Save as .csv or .xlsx only.
When does the upload fail?
- Header mismatch.
- Local number format without country code.
- Hidden characters copied from Excel/Sheets.
- File larger than 50 MB—the web uploader will reject.
Keywords: MyOperator audience upload, phone_number header, WhatsApp CSV format, template variables, contact auto-save
Updated on: 12/01/2026