The Basics of Email/SMS Templates
Chariot's email and text templates allow our users to send automated follow-ups and one-time communications to their customers. Chariot's existing templates for emails and text messages can be customized using the message editor tool.
Building Custom Email and Text/SMS Templates
You can use the editor tool to create new templates that incorporate your voice and dynamic content for your customers.
Introduction
When creating a new email or SMS template, you can select the action within Chariot that allows the message to be sent. The option to send an email "Ad Hoc" allows you to send a one-time message when necessary, without the message being tied to a specific job action.
The Basics
Editing the Subject Line
Click the pencil icon next to the subject line to adjust what your customer will see when they receive the message.
Add Content to your Message Templates
Editor Tools Overview
Blocks: You can use blocks to create blank spaces in which content can be placed, or select from the specific blocks available to configure within the template.
Utilities: Add email footers and headers
Buttons: Add buttons to the message body that the reader can click to take them directly to dynamic URL (e.g., Payment Link, Upload Photos, View Estimate)
Social Links: Embed the Social block to link message recipients to your business's social media profiles (e.g., Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Yelp, etc.)
Customized Messages: Include a blank space in the message body where you can add a custom message when sending an email or text directly to a recipient
Content: Select from various options of content blocks to drag and drop into the email. Once you add content to the email body, click into the content box to configure what is shown to the customer.
Body: Adjust text fonts, colors, and alignment in the message body. You can also change the background color and the format of hyperlinks included in the message.
Images: Embed images to your message body (email only) by uploading PNG or JPEG files from your device, or select from available stock images.
Audit: Review the edits you've made to your message template for potential errors or suggestions to improve readability for your recipients.
Include Attachments
Using Smart Tools
Smart Tools Overview:
Merge Tags: Insert Merge Tags to include dynamic components to your message template such as your company details or job details. These variables will be relevant to the recipient of the email, e.g., the Estimate or Invoice details for the customer who receives the email will display their estimate number or the link to their specific invoice.
Links: Highlight text in your message template to add hyperlinks by clicking on the Link icon. Enter the URL where you want to direct the message recipient, or choose from available Special Links with job details or documents for your customer.
Smart Text: Use AI to correct errors, make your message more friendly or more professional to the reader, summarize the message, and more with this tool.
Create SMS Templates
Key Things to Know When Editing SMS/Text Message Templates:
Text is the only content block that can be added to an SMS template (no image embedding)
Document and photo attachments cannot be added to SMS templates, only email templates.
You can include hyperlinks in SMS templates to link your customer to external pages and documents (documents can also hosted on Chariot's server -- just ask our support team!)
Test and Save Your Template
Audit your Template
The Audit tool in the message editor allows you to review potential errors with the content in your template. This can issues with alignment, or accessibility for your customers.
This shows a template where no potential issues have been found by the Audit tool.
The Audit tool shows two potential problems with images included in the message template that may be an accessibility issue for some readers.
Preview your Template
Use the Preview button to view your email or SMS template from the recipient's point of view. This will help you confirm if there are any additional changes that need to be made, or if objects you added to the message appear as desired (e.g., hyperlinks).
Test It
Click the "Test It" button to send a test email or text message to the recipient of your choice. Search your Jobs to find one with a customer that you would want to use as a test recipient for the template. (NOTE: If you have created a test job with your own contact information, you can send test template to yourself!)
