EmailLabs

FEATURE TUTORIAL - Creating and Using Templates

Templates allow designers to create a "shell" of HTML and insert editable regions so that message creation can be simplified. Once a template is set up, it can be used over and over again.

Templates work best on designs that remain primarily static but have a few areas which will need to be editable on a regular basis.

Tip: To edit the master template you need to return to the list the template was created in. If you will have multiple templates, we recommend that you create a mailing list to "hold" the templates so that they are easy to find and won't accidentally be deleted when a mailing list is deleted.
 
Creating the Template
Step 1: Select the mailing list you'd like to create this template in. Click on the Templates link on the left hand navigation bar.
Opt In Forms Button
Step 2: From the template page, click on the Create Template Button:
Create Opt In
Step 3: Name your template. Use something easily identifiable in as few characters as possible:
Create Opt In Form

Step 4: You now have the option to define the message defaults for this template. Whatever areas you fill in here will be pre-populated when the template is used. Mandatory fields are in bold black. When you are finished, click on SAVE & NEXT:
Redirection Page

Step 5: The next page is where you are going to put the "shell" of your HTML. For each editable region you will use the data tag that appears at the top of the blank window:

Step 6: The data tag above is the place holder for each of your editable regions. Copy and paste it as many times as you need to define all the editable regions. The tags are best contained in table cells if they are free text. The tags can also hold the place of a URL in a hyperlink or image reference. Each tag should have a unique name and description. When you are finished formatting your HTML, click on SAVE & NEXT.
Additional Options

Step 7: Now repeat the process with the text copy. When you are finished click on SAVE & NEXT:
Available Demographics
Step 8: Now you have the option to edit the content defaults. By clicking on the edit button on the right you can add HTML default content or you can choose to use the WYSIWYG editor to visually add the content. This step is optional. It is a good tool if there is a specific format your users should follow when adding content when using the template. When you are finished adding defaults, click on SAVE & FINISH.
Required Demographics
Using the Template
.Step 1: Click on the Create a message link on the left hand navigation bar
Optin Preview
Step 2: In the window, select the radio button New From Template and select the template name from the drop down.
Type and Size
Step 3: Notice the template defaults appear as you set them when you created the template. Set the rest of your options as you normally would and click on SAVE & NEXT.
HTML Code
Step 4: Use the Edit HTML links to the left of the template region to add content to the region. The link will take you to a window where you can add regular HTML code. If you would prefer to use a WYSIWYG editor, click on the HTML Helper link on the right navigation bar.
Step 5: Under the extra options at the bottom of the page you can check the box for Use HTML content for Text Regions and for any regions that the two versions have in common (as determined by their region name), the content from the HTML message will be copied down to the text message for you. When you are finished, click on SAVE & NEXT.
Step 6: Repeat the process for the text message if you did not choose to use HTML content for Text Regions. Otherwise, click on SAVE & NEXT.
Step 7: On the last page you can use the Notes and Tasks area to leave notes for yourself or other editors as well as set the link aliases for any links in your message. When you are finished, click on SAVE & FINISH.
NOTE: When you select a template at the start of the process, it makes a copy of the current template and uses that throughout the creation process. If the master template is changed after the message was created, the message will retain the old template copy.