Why use templates
Templates keep your messaging consistent across your whole team and every channel. They reduce typos, speed up replies in the unified inbox, and make sure customers always get the same polished tone whether the message comes from you, a dispatcher, or an automation.Templates work alongside your AI Employee and Knowledge Hub. Templates give you exact, controlled wording for repeatable messages, while the AI handles open-ended conversations.
Create a template
Open the templates area
Go to your messaging settings and choose to create a new template. Pick whether it’s an email or SMS template, since the editor and length limits differ between channels.
Name it clearly
Give the template a descriptive name like “Appointment confirmation” or “Quote follow-up” so your team can find it quickly later.
Write the message
For email, add a subject line and body. For SMS, keep it concise to avoid splitting into multiple segments, which can increase carrier costs on your connected Twilio or RingCentral number.
Insert variables
Add personalization variables (merge fields) where you want customer or business details to appear automatically.
Personalization variables
Variables pull live data from a contact, job, or your business profile and fill it in when the message is sent. Common variables include the customer’s first name, your business name, appointment date and time, and links such as a quote or payment link. When a message goes out, every variable is replaced with that recipient’s real values, so a single template produces a personalized message for each customer.Where templates are used
Campaigns
Select a template as the starting point for SMS or email campaigns, including A/B test variants.
Automations
Trigger templated messages from recipes and workflow triggers, like sending a confirmation when a job is booked.
Manual replies
Insert a template into a conversation in the unified inbox, then edit before you send.
Reminders
Use templates for appointment reminders and on-the-way notifications.
Best practices
- Keep SMS short and front-load the important details; long messages split into multiple segments billed at carrier cost.
- Always include an opt-out path in marketing SMS to stay compliant.
- Test a template by sending it to yourself before using it in a live campaign.
- Review templates periodically so dates, offers, and links stay current.
FAQ
Can I use the same template for email and SMS?
Can I use the same template for email and SMS?
No. Email templates have a subject and richer formatting, while SMS templates are plain text with strict length considerations. Create a version for each channel.
What happens if a variable has no value?
What happens if a variable has no value?
The variable is replaced with whatever data exists on the contact. Missing fields can leave gaps, so only use variables for data you reliably collect, and proofread before bulk sends.
Who can create and edit templates?
Who can create and edit templates?
Team members with the appropriate permissions can manage templates so the whole team shares consistent, approved messaging.
Next steps
SMS & email campaigns
Send templated broadcasts with A/B testing to your contacts and segments.
Automations
Build trigger-based workflows that send your templates automatically.
Unified inbox
Reply to calls, texts, email, and web leads from one conversation view.