There are three different types of template: text, media and rich card (landing page). And the template library is where new templates are created and saved ones can be found and edited.  

To access your template library, press the ‘message templates’ tab on the left-hand side of the portal or use the ‘message templates’ quick link in the middle of the homepage.

Creating a new template

To create a new template within the template library, press the ‘create new template’ button at the top left-hand side of the page. This will present you with a dropdown of the three available types of template.

Text templates

As well as entering the template name, content and the name or number which recipients will see, you will also have the option to set the expiry date for campaign reports and status data.

Templates can be personalised by using ‘dynamic fields’. For example: ‘Hi <name>, your package will be delivered at <date/time>.’ Before you send your message, you will be prompted to populate the dynamic fields. To learn more about sending a dynamic message, see our detailed guide.

Once all fields have been completed, just click on ‘Save template’ and it will be added to your library.  

Before sending an individual message via the message centre, the option will be available to save it as a template to be used at a later date. After entering the message content, simply click on the ‘Save as a template’ button.

Many of the fields required to create a text template (including adding a sender name, message content and report data expiry) are covered in our guide to How to Build and Send an SMS Message.

Media templates

Media templates allow you to attach a jpg, png or mp4 file to your message, enabling you to add an image to your text. 

When creating a media template, you will also have the option to define just how long the campaign report and status data will be available for you to view and download.

Once all fields have been completed, you will have the option to ‘Save’ or ‘Save & Send’. Whichever button you click on, the template will be added to your library.

Rich card (landing page) templates

A rich card (landing page) enhances a standard text-based experience, from adding images and call-to-action buttons through to delivering digital receipts, rearranging appointments and receiving payments. 

Although visually impressive, these block-based templates are easy to generate. You can add a number of text or image blocks and choose from pre-set rich content styles which will allow you to change text size, spacing and background colours.

You can send an sms rich card (landing page) as part of your text message. This links to a mobile webpage that is specifically designed to get the recipient to take action, such as registering for an event, making a purchase, confirming an appointment etc.

Creating a rich card (landing page) template – inc graphics, text and buttons

Once you’ve selected the option for Graphics, Text and Buttons template, you will be presented with the following screen:

We would suggest that the best place to start is the Style tab. Here you can set the colours to use for your background, text and buttons. 

If, for example, you would like to have a purple button with white text on it, make sure that one of the colours is white, and one of the colours is purple.

When you click on a colour, you will get a colour selection option, which also allows you to add a hex value to match the specific colour of your logo, for example.

You can also increase the Page Padding here (this increases the space left around your text and images if you want to show more of the background colour), and the Item Spacing (this creates more space between your images and text blocks).

Start building your template

Click back to the Add Blocks tab.

Before you get started, it’s important to understand what the three sections are in the layout editor.

(1) The content section

The top section is the most flexible part of the rich card (landing page) message. You can add images and text in one, two or three columns to this area, and it will expand (length-ways) to accommodate as much content as you add.

Top tip – keep this content within the default box height to ensure that your message will look great in all messaging apps.

Messaging Studio is designed to encourage you to create rich content that can be viewed and interacted with on other messaging apps such as RCS and Apple Business Chat, as well as via an SMS rich card (landing page). These platforms all prefer you to limit your image content to approximately the top half of your total message.

If you start to see a vertical scroll bar appearing in this section, customers viewing your message as a WhatsApp or RCS message, will see a cropped version of the full message. This won’t be a problem if you do not intend to send the message as WhatsApp or RCS, but it is worth remembering.

To add content to this section, click on the green + icon on your preferred block from the choices on the right side of the screen. Once the block is on the template, click on it to change it to a text or image block.

If it’s an image block you’ll be prompted to drag ‘n’ drop or upload an image from your computer. You can resize the image using the Image Size drop down menu, and left, right or centre align the image

If it’s a text block, you’ll be prompted to add text. You can alter the colour using one of the five selections from the Style tab, change the size, alignment and font weight.

You can also personalise this content to include a customer’s name, details of their appointment, key dates or the value of a bill payment. 

You can keep adding to this section with multiple text and image blocks, and use the arrows to move blocks around, and the bin icon to remove them.

(2) The ‘Title & Description’ section

Next, click on the Item Properties tab.

The middle section of your template is a plain text section – you can’t change the font size, colour or background. This is to allow the text content to appear on all messaging apps consistently. If you are only building your template to send as a rich card (landing page), you do not have to use this section, and can keep building your content using the top section.

(3) The buttons section

The final section of your template allows you to add CTA buttons, which can link off to a web page, connect to your phone’s calendar, or trigger a text, email or phone call. 

To add a button, click on the button block from the options on the right. It will automatically position itself in the button section of the template.

Click on this, and you can add the button text, the required action of the button when it’s clicked, the colour and text size.

You can add multiple buttons if you wish.

Switch to preview

At any time during your template creation you can preview what the finished message will look like either delivered as an SMS rich card (landing page), or RCS. Click on the ‘Switch to preview’ button at the top right to toggle this view, and then ‘Switch to editor’ to return back to the editing screen.

You will notice that there are differences between the RCS view and the SMS rich card (landing page) view – if you are only intending to send the message as a rich card (landing page), the only view you need to consider is the one titled SMS.

Exploring the Settings tab

This area allows you to control how the rich card (landing page) will be viewed on the recipient’s phone.

The Page Title is what appears in the tab of your internet browser (see example below left). The Web Preview Title appears in the preview within the Messages app (see example below right). The Web Preview Image also appears in the preview within the Messages app – although it’s worth noting that not all handsets include this preview feature.

You’re now ready to save your template.

Saving your template

Click on the grey ‘Next’ button at the bottom right of your screen. This will take you to the preview screen for one last look at your message. Click next again and you’ll have some final options.

Firstly, you need to name your template. This won’t be seen by customers and is for your reference only.

Secondly, you need to say for how long the campaign data needs to be saved. This helps your compliance with GDPR as the Messaging Studio will delete all data relating to the campaign after your specified period.

You do not have to decide what your SMS message will say at this point – but that’s what the next field is asking for, so feel free to fill this in now if you like. You’ll have the opportunity to do this when you come to send the campaign if you prefer.

You will need to specify the sender of the message. If you would like to receive a reply, this needs to be a short code or virtual mobile number. If you do not want direct replies to this message, you can change it to a Sender ID which should identify your brand.

In the above examples you may have noticed that the URL shown in the text message included the brand name ‘cactusenergy’ – to include your brand name in the short version of the URL, add it to the ‘branded URL text’ field.

If you want to send your message with unicode characters – emojis etc. – make sure you change the default setting away from GSM to Unicode.

Finally, you can set an expiry date for the rich card (landing page) message. Click Save at the bottom right and you have completed your template.

Sending a template

If you would like to use a template to send either a bulk or single message, press the icon with three buttons on the top right-hand corner of the desired template. Here, you will see a drop-down list of actions with the option to ‘send’ template. If you press the ‘send’ button, you will be redirected to the send message area.

You can also add a template after clicking on ‘Send message’ in the message centre. After entering the send title and recipients you’ll be taken to the ‘Compose’ section. Instead of composing a message, just click on ‘Add template’. You’ll then be asked to choose a template from a list. 

       

Editing a template

If you would like to edit a template, press the three vertical dots menu icon on the top right-hand corner of the desired template. Here, you will see a drop-down list of actions with the option to ‘edit’ your template.

The text template editor will allow you to edit the template name, message content, campaign report data expiry date, and sender ID. These will appear as the default settings each time you send a template.

Templates can also be edited after clicking on ‘Send message’ in the message centre. After entering the send title and recipients you’ll be taken to the ‘Compose’ section. Click on ‘Add template’, after which you’ll be asked to choose a template from a list. Once chosen, the option to ‘Edit template’ can be clicked.