Template Customization

Activity Messenger allows the creation of email/SMS messages using templates. The templates are responsive HTML messages and can contain text, images, and buttons, enabling you to design attractive emails that are suitable for mobile devices.

You can also send them via SMS, which will include a hyperlink allowing the message to be opened in a web browser. The HTML messages are responsive and adapt to different device formats (desktops, tablets, and smartphones).

The message templates are designed for newsletters and marketing emails. In combination with list management and scheduling, you can create email and SMS marketing campaigns targeting specific audiences and plan the sending for predetermined dates.

# Template design 

Access the Communication Tab:

• Navigate to the Communication tab in the main menu of your account.

Create a New Template:

• Click on Create to design a new template, or access your existing templates.

Select a Template:

• Choose from the available templates, such as a newsletter.
• You can opt for various predefined options or create a new one from scratch.

By following these steps, you'll be able to efficiently create and customize your messaging templates.

Email Focus:

• Templates will primarily be sent via email, so you can specify the subject line within the template. This subject can be modified later during the sending process.

Block Layout:

• A template consists of a vertical series of blocks:
  • Header Block: This is the first block, typically containing your logo and title.
  • Content Blocks: These follow the header and hold the main content of your message, including text, images, and buttons.
  • Footer Block: The last block, which usually includes contact information, links to unsubscribe, and social media icons.

By organizing your template in this way, you ensure clarity and visual appeal in your communications.

# Header and footer block 

Header Block:

• Contents:
  • Your organization’s logo.
  • A hyperlink directing recipients to your website.

Visibility:

You can choose to hide the header if you plan to use a full-width image as the main visual.

Footer Block:

• Mandatory Elements: Important information about your organization, including:
  • Copyright notice.
  • Contact details (address, phone number, email).
  • Links to your social media profiles.

An unsubscribe link for recipients to opt out of future communications.

Configuration Options:

• You can adjust the settings for both the header and footer in your organization’s configuration settings to ensure they align with your branding and compliance requirements.

# Content blocks

Add Content Blocks:

• Click the (+) button located at the top of the footer to add a new content block.
• The block will be added at the end of the existing content.

Rearranging Blocks:

• Use your mouse to drag and drop blocks to change their order as needed.

Editing Blocks:

• Click the pencil icon (✏️) to modify the content of a block.

Auto-Save Feature:

• Note that the template saves automatically, so your changes will be preserved without needing to manually save.

# Types of content blocks 

Activity Messenger offers six types of blocks for your templates:

Full-Width Image: An image you upload that spans the full width of the message. The height is variable based on the image size.

Single Column Text: A block containing a single column of text and/or a button.

Image Left, Text Right: A two-column layout where the left column contains an image and the right column contains text and/or a button.

Text Left, Image Right: A two-column layout where the left column contains text and/or a button, and the right column contains an image.

Empty Space: A separator that creates space between two blocks.

Two Columns: A block with two columns of text and/or buttons.

Video: A block for embedding a video from your media library, YouTube, or Vimeo.

Zoom: A block containing a link to a Zoom meeting.

Certificate:A block for inserting a certificate.

# Text

The text boxes allow you to design your message using standard formatting options found in a word processor (header, font color, indentation, lists, etc.). The formatted text will be converted into HTML to provide the best rendering in your emails.

Customize it by adding merge fields, such as the recipient's first name, to tailor each email to its recipient.

# AI functionality

The editor offers AI-based features to enhance your content:

Generate Text Variants: Create different versions of your text.
Translate Across Multiple Languages: Easily translate your content into various languages.
Adjust Tone: Modify the tone of your writing (e.g., more formal, friendly, etc.).

# Upload images 

The images you upload are stored on Activity Messenger's CDN (Content Delivery Network). We strongly recommend adhering to the specified sizes: full-width images should be 1200x600 pixels, while images for two-column layouts should be 270x270 pixels. You can vary the height of the images, but we suggest keeping the width consistent to ensure the best rendering across different devices and email applications.

All your images are kept in your Media catalog. When editing a block, click the Media button to access it.

You can also access Pexels to find royalty-free images or integrate your Canva account to create and customize your visuals directly.

# Button

Each message can include a customizable call-to-action button in your brand colors. These buttons are an excellent way to capture your recipients' attention.

They can redirect to forms, web pages, or documents.

For example, for a session-end survey, you can insert a button that directs to the form to be filled out.

Feel free to adapt the button text to suit your needs (e.g., "Book Your Ticket" or "Take the Survey").

The button color will automatically adjust based on the settings you’ve defined in your account under the Branding tab.

# Test and preview the template 

Test Merge Fields: Verify that dynamic information (such as the first name or activity) displays correctly by performing a test.

Preview: Visualize how your email will look on different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) to ensure it’s properly adapted.

Send a Test Email: You can send a test email to see how it will appear in an inbox.

# Publish and duplicate the template 

Publish: You can publish your template as a link, allowing you to share it directly on social media or through other channels.

Duplicate: If you need to create multiple newsletters with a similar structure, you can duplicate the template. This lets you reuse the same layout while modifying the content as needed.

These features help streamline your workflow and enhance your marketing efforts!

# Send your template

Select the Sending Method: Choose to send your email as a marketing communication, which allows recipients to unsubscribe.

Choose Recipients: Send the message to a contact list, a specific individual, or a group of users (e.g., your staff or a subscriber list). You can also select lists based on forms, such as those who have completed a parental consent form.

Schedule the Send: You have the option to schedule your email for a later date. The system will automatically update the recipient list before sending, adding anyone who has signed up after the scheduling.