Effective Use of Blank Templates
Note: DynaSend does not require the use of “stationery” or any specially formatted HTML messages. If you will be using DynaSend solely to facilitate the sending of pre-composed black & white text messages, the concept of blank templates will not apply to you.
Overview of Blank Templates and their two primary uses: “Blank” templates refer to what is often called email “stationery” in the Outlook world. An example of a blank template appears below:
Blank templates can serve two purposes in DynaSend:
- Providing the “background” for authors of new pre-composed DynaSend messages to compose on. For instance, the blank template above could be used by an Elliot Pishko Morgan worker’s compensation attorney to create a pre-composed message entitled “Worker’s Compensation – 10 frequently overlooked opportunities.”
- Providing the “background” for a message being composed on an ad-hoc, one-time, basis. For instance the same attorney might use the blank template to compose a message to a client that describes progress being made on a case and requests additional background information.
Where do you get your Blank Template? If you used our sister site, StationeryCentral.com, to design your blank template, and if you specified that the order was to support a DynaSend library, we will have posted your blank template for you.
Clicking on the “Blank Template by StationeryCentral.com” will provide you with the following options:
Of importance to you will be the “Send E-Mail” option and the “Copy” option. You can use the Send E-Mail option as a starting off point for authoring pre-composed email messages, or for your own ad-hoc emailing needs.
You can use the Copy option to easily post the blank template into one or more libraries you are creating for end users.
Note: End-users WILL NOT SEE the blank template menu option you have as a Library Administrator. You will have to make the blank template available for them to use (see next section.)
Making Blank Templates available to end-users – Method #1: One approach is to create a library page specifically called “BLANK TEMPLATE”
And end-user, say an “account manager – grocery” will then load and have access to two library pages from within their DynaSend control panel:
Pros: As a library administrator, you only need to post the blank template once. Also, the blank template only takes up one of your paid-for DynaSend template “slots.”
Cons: You will need to inform your end-users of the need to install two DynaSend library pages. End-users will have to switch back and forth between these two pages, depending on whether they need to use a pre-compose message or the blank template.
Making Blank Templates available to end-users – Method #2: The other approach is to create a subcategory within a specific library page, such as “account managers – grocery,” called BLANK TEMPLATE.
In this case, end-users will see:
Pros: End-users will only need to install one library page. Also, end-users will be able to access all of their pre-composed templates, and the blank template, from within the same library page.
Cons: If you are maintaining multiple library pages for various types of end-users, you will need to post the blank template multiple times. Also, by posting the blank template on a variety of library pages, you will be using up more of your paid-for DynaSend template “slots.”