Communication Templates

Use communication templates to streamline and standardize the creation process for direct marketing efforts. Administrators can build templates that include only the features and options your organization uses for direct marketing efforts. To maintain consistency and simplify setup, you can lock settings on a template so they cannot be viewed or edited by users who create marketing efforts from the template. You can also enter default values for fields on a template but leave them unlocked so users can change the values on marketing efforts.

Communication templates define default settings for direct marketing efforts and simplify the setup process by including only the options you need to create the effort. With communication templates, you can create direct marketing efforts that are as simple or complex as your organization needs. You can choose which features to make available for a direct marketing effort. For example, if your organization does not track KPIs, you can leave the KPIs grid blank and lock it so the KPIs tab is completely hidden for users who create marketing efforts based on that template.

The program provides 3 template examples you can evaluate and modify to meet your organization’s needs. The program also includes an example name pattern used by the simple email and mail templates.

  • Example Complex Mail Template: This is an example for sophisticated direct mail marketing efforts. All features are turned on and unlocked.

  • Example Simple Email Template: This is an example for simple email communications. Features not typically used with email efforts are turned off. Other options, such as activation and export formats, are set to use the program defaults and locked.

  • Example Simple Mail Template: This is an example for simple mail communications. Features not typically used with simple mailings are turned off. Other options, such as activation and export formats, are set to use the program defaults and locked.

To access the Communication Templates page from Marketing and Communications, select Communication templates under Configuration. From the Communication Templates page, you can create new templates and manage existing ones.

When an administrator sets up the template, they can define the level of complexity based on the needs of the program. They can define default values and settings for each marketing communication type template and lock and hide options they do not want end users to view or edit.

With the template builder, you can set up a marketing effort that is:

  • Specific to your fundraising program. Organizations will be able to create the communication tools they need to support the fundraising programs and channels they use. The program will not longer lack options for a particular communication type. For example, we currently do not include the ability to create “Sustainer Upgrade” marketing efforts in the program. Rather than wait for us to add this functionality to the program, organizations can build this missing communication type using the new communication templates. Moreover, organizations that use different terminology can use words specific to their organization; for example, “sustainer upgrade” is common at US organizations, whereas UK organizations would more commonly use the term “regular giving upgrade.”

  • Flexible **Support your fundraising program’s complexity level. Organizations will be able to make their programs simpler or more complex as needed, while always using the same overall process and set of tools, and tracking the same marketing details for analysis. For example, an organization could create a “Sustainer Upgrade” communication template that is set to work exactly as the organization needs it to. When an administrator sets up the template, they can define the level of complexity based on the needs of the program. They can define default values and settings for each marketing communication type template and lock and hide options they do not want end users to view or edit. In addition, organizations will be able to accommodate varying complexity levels within their organization. For example, if an organization has complex acknowledgements but simple sustainer upgrade campaigns, they will be able to manage both of those requirements within the same tool.

  • Consistent in its tracking of marketing data. Organizations will be able to access compiled statistics on a constituent across all communication efforts and types. By creating all communications through the same tool, the program can enforce the same minimum data requirements across all communications.

  • Consistent in user experience. One common process means fewer tools to learn and maintain within an organization.