What is a Template?
A template is a predefined schedule of communications that can be quickly applied to any campaign. Templates allow you to efficiently schedule communications across your campaigns by setting a predefined schedule, saving time and ensuring consistency across your communication strategy.
In the Communicate App, templates are grouped as Smart Templates (timeline-based, anchored to campaign Start or End) and Legacy Templates (the original week-and-day grid; Legacy templates will be deprecated in favor of Smart Templates, with a Convert to Smart Template path when you are ready). Smart and Legacy templates are created with a defined duration and communications across your channels. You apply them from a campaign’s communications calendar; Smart Templates use a preview step before apply. See Templates for the full guide.
Why Do Templates Matter for Church Communications?
Templates matter because they save significant time and ensure consistency. Instead of manually scheduling the same communication pattern for every similar campaign, templates let you:
- Save time: Apply a complete communication schedule with one click
- Ensure consistency: Use proven communication patterns across similar campaigns
- Reduce errors: Avoid forgetting to schedule important communications
- Standardize workflows: Create tiered templates for different campaign types (e.g., Tier 1 for major events, Tier 2 for smaller events)
For churches that run similar campaigns regularly (like weekly services, monthly events, or annual programs), templates are essential for efficiency and consistency.
How Do Templates Work in Communicate?
In the Communicate App, templates are created and managed in the Templates section. Choose Smart Template or Legacy Template when creating a new template.
Creating Smart Templates:
Name the template, choose whether it anchors to campaign Start or End, add weeks, and drag channels onto the timeline with placement choices (for example follow schedule, choose day, or auto based on preferences).
Creating Legacy Templates:
Name your template, select length (1–20 weeks) with the Weeks dropdown, drag channel icons into the week/day grid, then Save.
Using Templates:
- Navigate to the Communications Calendar within a Campaign Page
- Click + Apply Template and pick under Smart Templates or Legacy Templates
- Smart Templates use Template Preview before apply; Legacy Templates may show a Legacy Template Notice with convert options
- Only templates that fit your campaign length are shown; for Legacy grid templates, Day 1 aligns with the campaign start date
Managing Templates:
- Edit templates (changes only affect future uses, not existing campaigns)
- Duplicate templates to create variations
- Delete templates (existing campaigns that used the template remain unaffected); Legacy templates offer Convert to Smart Template
When Should You Use Templates?
Use templates for:
- Recurring campaign types: Weekly services, monthly events, or annual programs that follow similar communication patterns
- Tiered communication strategies: Create different templates for major events (Tier 1) vs. smaller events (Tier 2)
- Standardized workflows: When you want to ensure every campaign of a certain type includes specific communications
- Time-saving: Any situation where you're scheduling similar communication patterns repeatedly
Templates are especially valuable for churches that run multiple similar campaigns throughout the year, as they eliminate the need to recreate the same schedule each time.
Related Terms
- Campaign - Templates are applied to campaigns
- Communication - Templates create multiple communications at once
- Channel - Templates schedule communications across different channels
- Channel Preferences and Schedules - Smart Templates can follow channel rules when placing communications
- Calendar - Templates are applied in the campaign's communication calendar
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I edit a template after it's been used in campaigns?
A: Yes, you can edit templates at any time. Changes only affect future uses of the template, not campaigns that have already used it. This ensures existing campaigns remain unchanged.
Q: What happens if my campaign is longer than the template?
A: The template will be applied starting from Day 1 of your campaign. The remaining days or weeks will be left blank for you to fill as needed. Templates can only be applied to campaigns that are the same length or longer.
Q: Can I apply multiple templates to one campaign?
A: You can apply multiple templates to a single campaign, but if you need to change templates, you'll need to remove all existing communications before applying a new one. Existing communications won't be overridden by template application.
Q: Can I customize communications after applying a template?
A: Yes, once a template has been applied, you can adjust, reorder, or remove any communications as needed, just as you would if you had scheduled them manually. Templates provide a starting point that you can customize.
Q: Should I create separate templates for different campaign types?
A: Yes, creating tiered templates based on campaign types is a best practice. For example, major all-church events might have a Tier 1 template with more weeks and communications, while smaller events might use a shorter, more focused template.
Q: What's the best way to organize templates?
A: Consider standardizing the start day for your campaigns. If you always start campaigns on a Monday, create templates with Day 1 aligned to Monday. This consistency helps maintain alignment when applying templates.