Overview
Text Messaging Templates allow you to create reusable text messages that can be sent to clients manually or automatically. These templates are created within the Ad Hoc Email editor and can support a variety of communication workflows such as appointment confirmations, follow-ups, and campaign-driven automation. Although they are created in the Ad Hoc Email area, they function independently of email and can be used solely for texting when needed.
Settings and Navigation
To create or manage text templates, go to: Control Panel > Ad Hoc Emails.
From there, open an existing Ad Hoc Email template that is a Contact type, or create a new one.
- Click Edit to add a text template to an existing Ad Hoc Email.
- Click Add to create a new one from scratch.
Important: Only Contact type Ad Hoc Email templates will appear as text options for manual texting. 
Scroll down to the Texting Format section to create your text message template.
You do not need to fill out the email section to use a texting template. If you're creating a texting-only template, simply leave the Editor section blank.
Enter your text message content here. The following apply:
- Contact shortcodes are supported
- Full pasted links are supported
- HTML is not supported
Using Texting Templates
Sending a Text Manually
In the main Texting section, you can select a contact to send a message. At the bottom of the page, you'll see a dropdown that lists your available text templates. Select the one you want to use, and it fills out the text field and can be edited before sending.
In the main Texting section, you can select a contact and send a message. At the bottom of the page, you’ll see a dropdown containing your available text templates. Selecting a template will populate the texting field, and you may edit the text before sending.
The same options appear on the Texting tab within a contact’s profile.
Automating with Drip Triggers
Ad Hoc text templates can be used within Drips, and this is not limited to Contact type templates.
When building a trigger or campaign:
- Add an Action
- Select Send Text
- Either type a custom message or choose a text template from the dropdown
The template options will match the trigger type. For example, if the trigger relates to proposals, only proposal-type text templates will appear.
This allows you to use text templates for proposals, invoices, appointments, and contacts in automated drip workflows.
Other Automations
Your Ad Hoc text templates can be used automatically without drip triggers in certain scenarios. For example:
If an Ad Hoc Email template is set up for Appointment Confirmation on a service and the contact has selected text confirmation instead of email, then the text version of that template will be sent automatically.
You can also edit or review your default automated texts anytime at: Control Panel > Automated Text/Voice
FAQs
I set up a text template on one of my ad hoc emails. Why isn't it sending to the customer when the email goes out?
The text template on an email will not automatically go out, unless it is for an appointment related communication, the contact has chosen text confirmation, and the ad hoc email template is set up on the service the appointment is for. Otherwise, you'll need to use Drips to configure your automation to send out your text template.
When I go to a contact's page and try to use the dropdown to select a text template I set up, it's not there as an option. Why not?
The only text templates available on the contact page and in the texting hub are contact type, so if you set up a template for proposals, invoices, or appointments, the text template will not show up.
Can I use shortcodes in my text templates?
Shortcodes will work in text templates, but keep in mind the type of message and shortcodes you're trying to use. For example, proposal shortcodes won't work in a contact type template.
