What is an email template?

A template is a base pre-designed content file that is used to start your campaign in the Create a Campaign Workflow. You can build, edit, and organize your templates on the Assets dashboard.

How are templates used?

Templates are built and saved in Assets. It's best practice to design multiple versions to match the different types of communications your organization sends like newsletters, events, announcements, etc. Once you've completed a template it is available to choose in your Create a Campaign Workflow. 

When creating a campaign using a template, you have the option to choose from:

• Custom Template - Completed status email template files saved in your Assets dashboard. There are two statuses of templates—draft templates and completed templates - only completed status will be available for selection when creating a campaign.
• Drag-and-Drop Stock Template - Choose from a variety of stock templates available for use with our drag-and-drop designer.
  • Templates can be saved at the individual account level or templates account level. See more information for Customer Template Repository (Professional and Enterprise)
    
    
  • Depending on your account setup, you may see one additional template option, HTML Editor Stock Template. This is a 2nd WYSIWYG editor that is not available by default.
    

Draft Templates

A draft template is a template you are actively designing and is considered in-progress. Once you are ready to use the template to build campaigns you will want to "complete" the template. In order to change a template to the complete status, it must be tested. If you see a yellow indicator and no option to change the status, this means the template still needs to be tested.

HOW-TO

1. Hover over the template in question.
2. Choose the "Edit" drop-down menu.
3. Choose "Complete".
   
4. Add a new file name for your completed template. Or, use the same file name if you need to overwrite an existing completed template for version control.
   
5. Click "Ok".

Completed Templates

Completed templates are the only templates that are available to choose/use in the Create a Campaign Workflow. These should be "ready to use" files, meaning that when they are selected minimal design effort is needed in the campaign building process.

Notes

1. You can always edit your templates (even the completed ones). If you want to edit a completed template, the system will create a duplicate template in "Draft Templates". Once you are done editing and looking to complete this new template the file will require a new name. You will want to name your different versions in a way that helps you keep track!
   
   
2. If you are building an automated series that includes very similar email designs, consider creating a template first so you can build your individual campaigns speedily and without much double-work.