This guide explains how you could use Microsoft Excel to prepare custom messages for each gift recipient, ready to upload to GiftPay. For help on how to upload this file and send customised gifts, see Sending a large batch of eGifts with the same value and message.


:::tip
This guide explains how you could use Microsoft Excel to prepare custom messages for each gift recipient, ready to upload to GiftPay. For help on how to upload this file and send customised gifts, see **[Sending a large batch of eGifts with the same value and message](/doc/sending-a-large-batch-of-egifts-with-custom-values-and-messages-XhNPy7RDoM).**

:::

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If you have an excel file with gift recipient first names and email addresses, you can use the excel concatenate functions to create a column with personalised gift card messages. This column is used as the Message column when uploaded to GiftPay. This means each gift recipient can receive a gift message personalised with their own name, making the gift a little more personal.

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In this example, we'll add a recipient's name to a personal gift message. This assumes you have an excel file with each recipient's first name and email address.

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1. If your excel file doesn't have a header row yet, add a new above row 1, and use a header of "Name" above the first names. Also add a second column next to it with a header of "Gift Message". Next to the first recipient's name in the Gift Message column, type in the rest of the text that should be joined with their name to form the full personal message: \n  ![](https://express.giftpay.com/images/help-excel-concat-01.png)

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2. Add another new column with header name of "Message". This **column** must have "Message" in the header, since the GiftPay system looks for that header to find the message data to use. \n  ![](https://express.giftpay.com/images/help-excel-concat-02.png)

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3. In the first record for the "Message" column, you're going to type the **=** sign; \n  ![](https://express.giftpay.com/images/help-excel-concat-03.png)

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4. Then click the first cell under the "Name" header. (In our example below, Cell A2); \n  ![](https://express.giftpay.com/images/help-excel-concat-04.png)

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5. Type the **&** sign. The & character is a shortcut for the concatenate function; \n  ![](https://express.giftpay.com/images/help-excel-concat-05.png)

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6. Then click the first cell under the "Gift Message" header. (In our example below, Cell B2); \n  ![](https://express.giftpay.com/images/help-excel-concat-06.png)

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7. Then press ENTER to save that cell. Excel should now join the first name to the gift message and show the full personalised message for the first recipient. \n  ![](https://express.giftpay.com/images/help-excel-concat-07.png)

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8. Now select that same cell again (Cell C2), then click and drag down from bottom right corner of the box to fill the remaining cells in the column. \n  ![](https://express.giftpay.com/images/help-excel-concat-08.png)

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Here's what the result should look like. Ensure that the personalised message still matches up with the correct email address on each row.

 ![](https://express.giftpay.com/images/help-excel-concat-filled.png)

How to create personalised gift card messages

API Integration Guide

How to add and edit programs

Step by Step Guides

Where can gift recipients redeem their eGift?

Can I buy single brand eGift Cards such as Amazon or Best Buy?

What is the minimum and maximum value gift I can send?

Do GiftPay eGifts expire?

If my eGift recipient chooses a charity donation eGift Card, how much does the charity receive?

eGift Cards in the US

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Can GiftPay eGift Cards be combined by recipients?

A gift recipient needs a password to open their eGift, where do they get the password from?

How does a gift recipient redeem their eGift?

Helping Your Gift Recipients use their eGift Cards

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How can I change my billing details such as company name and address?

Do the funds I have paid into my GiftPay account ever expire?

How can I deposit or add funds to my GiftPay account?

If I deposit funds to GiftPay and then later change my mind, can I get a refund?

What payment terms do you offer? Can I send gifts now and pay later?

Can I transfer funds between programs?

How do I cancel or delete an invoice?

How do I allocate funds from Unallocated Balance to a program?

How do I avoid the need to allocate or transfer funds between programs?

What are GiftPay programs used for?

How can I request a statement of account?

How do I request an invoice?

Can I pay via international bank transfer or with an international credit card?

I have just made a payment to GiftPay. When will the funds be available in my GiftPay account?

I've paid in funds to GiftPay but the balance in my account is still zero, where did the money go?

Account and Adding Funds

Can I cancel an eGift after it has been sent?

What does a gift status of "Valid (Clicked)" mean?

What does a gift status of "Valid (Used)" mean?

What can I do if a recipient claims they never received their eGift?

What happens if I deliver the eGift to the wrong email address?

What does it mean if an eGift has a status of "Used/Expired"?

A gift card email has bounced. What can I do?

Viewing and Managing Past Deliveries

Can I claim back a gift card that is unused or expired?

How is GiftPay better than other gift card and gift code suppliers?

Is it possible to customise the branding of my eGifts?

How can I send eGift Cards to other countries?

How soon can I start sending eGifts?

Custom branding image and file specifications

How can I get a preview of my custom branding?

Getting Started with GiftPay

If the service is free, how does GiftPay make a profit?

How secure is GiftPay?

Which countries can I send gift cards to?

What terms and conditions apply to each gift card?

How much does it cost to apply for a business account?

Do you sell plastic gift cards?

About GiftPay

Best practices to keep your GiftPay account secure

How do I remove a user or team member from my GiftPay account?

Can I add another user to my account?

Does GiftPay support Single Sign On (SSO)?

How can I add two-factor authentication (2FA) on my account?

Managing Users & Security

What ordering and delivery methods does GiftPay offer?

How are eGifts delivered?

Can I send eGifts to a mobile via SMS/text?

Sending a large batch of eGifts with the same value and message

Can I deliver eGifts of different value or with different messages within the same delivery batch?

Is there a way to use GiftPay without divulging the email addresses of my gift recipients?

Can I send the gift cards to one email address and then forward them to my recipients?

How to create personalised gift card messages

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How to create personalised gift card messages

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