This guide explains how to add data to your Phantoms so it knows what to work on. Whether you're using a single link, a list of keywords, or uploading a file, you’ll learn which method to use and how to format your data correctly.
What kind of data does a Phantom need
Each Phantom needs specific information to run properly, like what profiles to visit or what searches to extract. You’ll enter this information during the Phantom’s setup.
Depending on the Phantom, you can:
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Add a single link or keyword.
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Use a Google Sheet or CSV file with multiple rows.
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Use results from another Phantom you’ve already run (this is called chaining).
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Choose a Lead list or HubSpot list, when available.
You’ll see available options during the first or second step of your Phantom setup.
For example: “Profiles to scrape,” “Searches to extract,” "Tweets to like" or something similar depending on the Phantom.
Add one link, profile, or keyword
Use this option when you only want to process one item, like:
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A LinkedIn profile URL, company URL, or search link.
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A keyword, like: marketing director Paris.
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A Lead list from your LinkedIn Leads page.
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A HubSpot contact list (available with HubSpot-compatible Phantoms).
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Results from another Phantom, this is called chaining.
Phantoms will process that single item and stop when it's done.
Add a list using a Google Sheet or CSV file
If you want to automate more than one profile, keyword, or search, you can give your Phantom a list instead of a single item.
There are two ways to do this:
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Use a public Google Sheet (recommended)
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Upload a CSV file (available on paid plans)
These methods let your Phantom process each item in your list, one by one, across multiple launches if needed.
Option 1: Use a public Google Sheet (recommended)
How to set it up:
- Add your items (one per row) in column A of a Google Sheet.
Example: one LinkedIn profile or one keyword per row. -
Make the sheet public:
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Click Share.
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Set visibility to “Anyone with the link."
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- Copy the sheet URL and paste it in the Phantom setup.
- (Optional) The Phantom will always take Column A as input by default, if your data is in a different column, choose that column during setup.
For LinkedIn Phantoms: To bypass LinkedIn’s 1,000-results limit, split your search into multiple URLs and use a spreadsheet to combine them.
Option 2: Upload a CSV file (available on paid plans only)
You can also upload a .csv file instead of using Google Sheets.
How to upload your file:
- Go to your PhantomBuster Dashboard, and click on your Phantom to open the Phantom’s console.
- Click the three dots menu on the top right-hand side and select File browser.
- Click the Upload files icon and select your csv. file.
- After upload, right-click the file and choose Copy link address.
- Paste that link into the Phantom’s input step in your setup.
Important:
- Make sure the file is in .csv format (exported from tools like Google Sheets or Excel).
- Google Drive or Dropbox links won’t work.
- This option is only available on paid plans.
Note for free/trial users: CSV upload is only available on paid plans. You can still convert your data into a public Google Sheet and use the link instead.
How the Phantom handles your list
When you run a Phantom with a list of items:
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It works through them one at a time, row by row.
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If a launch is interrupted, it will automatically pick up where it left off.
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You can control how many rows it processes per launch using the Rows in your spreadsheet to process per launch option in the Behavior step.