Using Marketing Templates
Using Marketing Templates
Marketing templates let you create reusable message designs for email, SMS, and push notification campaigns. Templates save time and ensure consistent branding across all your communications.
Template Types
| Channel | What You Can Template | Personalization |
|---|---|---|
| Subject line, HTML body, plain text body | Full merge tags | |
| SMS | Message text (up to 160 chars per segment) | Merge tags |
| Push Notification | Title and body text | Merge tags |
System Templates vs. Custom Templates
System Templates
Pre-built templates provided by Cockato that are available to all organizations:
- Welcome email template
- Points earned notification
- Reward available notification
- Re-engagement campaign
System templates cannot be edited but can be duplicated as a starting point for custom templates.
Custom Templates
Templates created by your organization:
- Fully editable
- Can be categorized (promotional, transactional, seasonal)
- Can be archived when no longer needed
Creating a Template
- Navigate to Marketing → Templates
- Click New Template
- Select the channel (Email, SMS, or Push)
- Fill in the template content
- Click Save
Email Template Fields
| Field | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Internal label for the template | Yes |
| Category | Organizational grouping (e.g., "Seasonal") | No |
| Subject Template | Email subject line with optional merge tags | Yes |
| HTML Content | Rich HTML email body | Yes |
| Plain Text Content | Fallback for email clients that don't support HTML | Recommended |
SMS Template Fields
| Field | Description | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Internal label | — |
| SMS Content | Message text with merge tags | 160 chars/segment |
Push Notification Template Fields
| Field | Description | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Internal label | — |
| Title | Notification title | 50 chars recommended |
| Body | Notification body text | 100 chars recommended |
Personalization Merge Tags
Use merge tags to personalize messages for each recipient:
| Tag | Replaced With | Example |
|---|---|---|
{{customer_name}} | Customer's full name | "Sarah Johnson" |
{{first_name}} | Customer's first name | "Sarah" |
{{points_balance}} | Current points balance | "1,250" |
{{organization_name}} | Your business name | "Bean Counter Coffee" |
{{barcode_id}} | Customer's barcode ID | "CKT-00001234" |
💡 Tip: Always include a plain text fallback for email templates. Some email clients and spam filters prefer plain text versions.
Using Templates in Campaigns
When creating a new campaign:
- Go to Marketing → Campaigns → New Campaign
- Select your channel
- Click Use Template to browse available templates
- Select a template — its content is copied into the campaign editor
- Customize the content as needed for this specific campaign
⚠️ Important: Templates are copied into campaigns, not linked. Editing a template after using it in a campaign does not update the campaign.
Managing Templates
Editing a Template
Click the Edit button next to any custom template. Changes are saved immediately and apply to future campaigns only.
Deactivating a Template
Toggle the Active switch to hide a template from the campaign builder without deleting it.
Deleting a Template
Custom templates can be permanently deleted. System templates cannot be deleted.
Best Practices
- Keep subject lines under 50 characters for optimal mobile display
- Test merge tags by sending a test campaign to yourself first
- Create seasonal templates ahead of time (holiday promotions, summer specials)
- Use categories to organize templates as your library grows
- Include an unsubscribe link in all marketing email templates
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import HTML email templates from other platforms? Yes — paste your HTML directly into the HTML Content field of an email template.
Are templates shared across all team members? Yes — all templates are organization-level and visible to all members with marketing access.
Can I preview how merge tags will render? Merge tags are shown as placeholders in the editor. Send a test campaign to see the rendered result.
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