Data conversion

Data conversion turns a non-ad source — for example, a Google Sheets tab, a CSV File Import, or a BigQuery view — into a standalone ad channel inside Adriel. Once converted, the source behaves like an ad-platform connector: it shows up in ad data filters, contributes to channel-level totals, and can have complementary sources (a CRM, an MMP) blended onto it the same way they would blend onto Meta Ads or Google Ads. This is different from data blending. Blending keeps the non-ad source as a side-by-side enrichment of existing ad rows; conversion promotes the source to a first-class channel.

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When to use Data Conversion vs Data Blending

Both Data Conversion and Data Blending live on the Data integration tab of every eligible data source’s settings page, behind the same on/off toggle. The two modes solve different problems — pick Data Conversion to turn a non-ad source into a standalone ad channel, or Data blending to enrich existing ad rows with a complementary source: Concrete examples:

• A traditional print campaign tracked in Google Sheets — convert it so spend rolls up alongside Meta Ads and Google Ads in channel-level totals.
• An in-house affiliate program exported as a CSV — convert it so the affiliate channel can be filtered like any other ad source.
• A regional ad network with no direct API — pull totals into BigQuery, then convert so blended attribution data (HubSpot, AppsFlyer) can layer onto it.

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Eligible data sources

Data conversion is available for non-ad data sources where columns are user-defined:

• Google Sheets
• CSV File Import
• BigQuery, PostgreSQL, Redshift, MySQL (any of the database connectors)
• Amazon S3 file imports

Marketing connectors (Meta Ads, Google Ads, LinkedIn Ads, TikTok Ads, etc.) already behave as ad channels and cannot be converted.

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Open the conversion settings

1. Open the Connections menu and pick the data source.
2. Open Data source settings.
3. Open the Data integration tab.
4. Turn the toggle on. The label reads “Turn on to blend or convert this data source. Leave off to use this data source as-is.”
5. Pick the Data Conversion card — “Use as a standalone ad channel. Turn data from sources such as Google Sheets, CSV, DB etc. into a standalone ad channel. This will allow it to be included in ad data filters and let other data sources to be blended onto this source.”

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Map source columns to ad-data columns

The conversion editor shows two columns:

• Target field — the ad-data column that the converted source will populate (Spend, Impressions, Clicks, Campaign, Ad Set, etc.).
• Source field — the column from the non-ad source that contains the value.

Add one row per ad-data column to populate. Adriel’s recommended minimum mapping: Channel cannot be mapped because the data source itself becomes the channel. Adriel recommends mapping the full advertising hierarchy — Campaign, Ad Set, and Ad — for the most flexibility in dashboards. Some target fields require companion fields. For example, an Ad Set mapping typically requires a Campaign mapping in the same configuration — without the parent, the channel hierarchy is incomplete and the editor blocks save until both are mapped.

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Save and start using the converted source

Click Save. The data source now appears as its own ad channel inside Adriel:

• It shows up in the Channel filter list and in the channel selector on every widget.
• It contributes to channel-level totals (spend, impressions, clicks).
• Other data sources can be blended onto it via Data blending — for example, blending a HubSpot Deals source onto the converted channel for downstream attribution.

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Troubleshooting

Related: Data blending · Data integration FAQs