How to Create Text Template

SMS templates save you time and ensure consistency by allowing you to create and reuse common messages. You can even personalize them with dynamic information like a contact's name.

Video Tutorial

Step 1: Find the Template Object

First, you need to navigate to the area where templates are stored.

  1. In the main Valstorm app, locate the Object Search bar on the left-hand navigation panel.
  2. Type Template into the search bar.
  3. Select Template from the results to view the list of all existing templates.

Step 2: Create a New Template

From the Template list view, you can create a new template.

  1. Click the New button, located near the top of the template list.
  2. This will open a form where you can define your new template.

Step 3: Configure Your Template

Fill out the form with the details of your message.

  1. Name: Give your template a descriptive name that you'll easily recognize later (e.g., "New Lead Welcome," "Sale Announcement").
  2. Body: Write the content of your text message. This is what your contacts will see.
  3. Type: From the dropdown menu, select SMS. This is crucial for ensuring the template appears in your SMS conversation window.
  4. Click Save.

Step 4: Personalize with Merge Fields (Optional but Recommended)

Merge fields are placeholders that automatically pull in information from the contact record, making your messages feel personal.

  • Syntax: Merge fields use a "curly brace" format: {object.field_name}
  • Object: For SMS, the object will almost always be contact.
  • Field Name: The field name must be in "snake_case" (all lowercase, with underscores instead of spaces). For example, the "First Name" field becomes first_name.

Example:

To create a message that says "Hey Jared, we have a sale going on!", you would write the following in the Body field:

Hey {{contact.first_name}}, we have a sale going on!

When you use the template, {{contact.first_name}} will be automatically replaced with the first name of the contact you're messaging.

A Note for Salesforce Users

The merge fields available by default are based on the standard contact fields synced with Valstorm. If you need to use custom fields from your Salesforce instance in your templates, please consult with the Valstorm team to get them configured.

Step 5: Using Your Template in a Conversation

Once saved, your template is ready to use.

  1. Open the Phone component and navigate to an SMS conversation.
  2. Click the Templates icon (often a document or page icon) within the message composition area.
  3. Select your newly created template from the list.
  4. The template's body will populate the message box, and any merge fields will be filled with the contact's specific information. You can now send the message.