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Create Promotional Code Cards with Canva (Promo codes Bulk Create)

Written by Julye Fortier

Create Promotional Code Cards with Canva (Bulk Create)

Would you like to quickly create professional cards containing a unique promotional code for each client?

Smiley allows you to generate a batch of promotional codes and export them as a .CSV file. You can then import this file into Canva and use the Bulk Create feature to automatically generate a different card for each code.

This method is ideal if you want to create professional, customized cards while taking advantage of Canva's design tools.

Before You Begin

You will need:

💡 Good to know
Each row in your .CSV file corresponds to a unique promotional code. Canva will use this data to automatically generate a different version of your card for each code.

Step 1 – Create and Export Your Promotional Codes in Smiley

In Smiley:

  1. Go to the Promotional Codes section.

  2. Create your batch of promotional codes.

  3. Configure the desired settings for your promotion.

  4. Generate the codes.

  5. Once your batch has been created, export the codes as a .CSV file.

  6. Save the file to your computer.

⚠️ Important
Avoid changing the column names in your .CSV file. Canva will use these names to identify the available data when using Bulk Create.

Step 2 – Create Your Card Template in Canva

In Canva, create the design for your promotional card.

You can include elements such as:

  • Your logo;

  • Your business name;

  • The discount amount or percentage;

  • Instructions on how to use the code;

  • Your website or online store address;

  • The promotion's expiration date;

  • A placeholder for the promotional code.

Where you want the code to appear, simply add a temporary text box, for example:

PROMO CODE: XXXXXXXX

The XXXXXXXX will later be automatically replaced with the codes from your Smiley file.

💡 Tip
Make sure you leave enough space for longer codes. You can also choose the font, size, color, and alignment you want to use before connecting your data.

Step 3 – Open Bulk Create in Canva

Once your template is ready:

  1. In your Canva design, open Apps.

  2. Search for Bulk Create.

  3. Select Bulk Create.

  4. Choose the option to upload or import data.

  5. Import the .CSV file downloaded from Smiley.

Canva will then display the different columns contained in your file.

Step 4 – Connect the Promotional Code to Your Text Box

You now need to tell Canva which element in your design should be replaced with the promotional codes from your .CSV file.

  1. Select the text box containing your temporary code XXXXXXXX.

  2. Right-click the text box.

  3. Select Connect data.

  4. Choose the column corresponding to the promotional code from your Smiley file.

Your text box is now connected to your .CSV file.

Canva will automatically replace the temporary text with a different promotional code for each card generated.

💡 Tip
You can keep fixed text in front of your connected field.

For example:

PROMO CODE: XXXXXXXX

Only the part containing the code needs to be connected to your data if you want PROMO CODE: to remain the same on every card.

Step 5 – Connect Other Information, If Needed

If your .CSV file contains other information you would like to display on your cards, you can also connect it to your design.

For example:

  • The promotional value;

  • The expiration date;

  • A description;

  • Any other information available in your file.

Simply create a text box for each piece of information, then use:

Right-click → Connect data → Select the desired column

This allows you to automate several elements of your card at the same time.

Step 6 – Generate Your Cards

Once your data is connected:

  1. Return to Bulk Create.

  2. Review the data that will be used.

  3. Select the rows you want to generate.

  4. Click Generate or Generate pages.

Canva will automatically create new pages based on your template.

Each page will contain a version of your card with a different promotional code.

For example, if your file contains 300 promotional codes, Canva can generate 300 personalized cards from a single template.

Step 7 – Review the Generated Cards

Before downloading your cards, take a moment to review a few pages.

Make sure that:

  • Each card contains a different code;

  • The codes are displayed correctly;

  • No code extends outside the text box;

  • The font and size are consistent;

  • Any other information from the .CSV file is displayed correctly.

⚠️ Important
Pay particular attention to longer codes to make sure they are not cut off or shifted within your design.

Step 8 – Download Your Cards

Once your cards are ready:

  1. Click Share.

  2. Select Download.

  3. Choose your preferred file format.

For printing, we generally recommend:

PDF Print

You can then print the cards yourself or send the file to your photo lab or printer.

💡 Tip
Before printing a large quantity of cards, always review your final PDF and print a test copy.

Example

You create a batch of 300 unique promotional codes in Smiley.

You export your .CSV file and import it into Bulk Create in Canva.

You connect the column containing the promotional codes to the text box on your card.

Canva will then automatically generate:

Page 1 → Code 1
​Page 2 → Code 2
​Page 3 → Code 3
​Page 4 → Code 4

...and so on.

You now have 300 personalized cards without having to manually copy and paste each promotional code.

In Summary

The process is simple:

Smiley → Generate Codes → Export CSV → Create Your Canva Template → Bulk Create → Import CSV → Connect Data → Generate Cards → Download

This method allows you to quickly create a large number of personalized promotional cards, each containing its own unique code generated by Smiley.

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