❗ You must complete the Placeholder Setup and Company Pitch before creating a template. If not done, please complete these steps first.
➡️ Access Template Library:
Click on Template Library.
You will see a list of existing templates with their status. “Completed” means you can’t make changes anymore. You can also see how many campaigns each template is being used in.
Click Create new template to start a new template.
At the top of the page, you will see the 5 phases of template creation:
Basic Setup
Template Setup
Template Editor
Subject Line
Confirmation
1. Basic Setup
1. Basic Setup
Step 1: Template Name
Enter a name for the template. The name is for internal use only and will not be visible to recipients of your campaign.
Click Save as draft to save the template before you move on.
Click Continue to go to the next step.
Step 2: Template Language Selection
dealcode.ai can create messages in German or English.
Click on the language you want to use in your campaign.
If you select German, you must decide on formal or informal salutation (Sie/Du).
Click Continue to go to the next step
Step 3: Call to Action Setup
Every campaign has a clear goal for readers, such as booking an appointment, signing up for an event, or downloading an e-book. To ensure dealcode.ai understands the desired action for your messages, you need to set up a Call to Action (CTA).
Select a Call to Action (CTA) from the list (e.g., Event, Checklist, Cheat Sheet, eBook, Survey).
Depending on the CTA, provide further information.
If you choose Meeting, provide a URL to the booking tool or calendar where leads can schedule a meeting.
If you prefer to provide a phone number, choose Custom Call to Action and enter your phone number in the Title box.
Enter the title for the CTA as it should appear in the mailing.
If you provide a URL, the title will show up as a hyperlink in your message (e.g., Schedule a meeting now).
If you do not provide a URL, enter the full text (e.g., Call today to set up a meeting: +49 123 4567890).
Click Continue to go to the next step.
👉 Don’t forget to Save as draft while you are going through the steps!
Step 4: AI Outreach Agent Selection
Select the person that will be shown as the sender of your messages - the AI Outreach Agent.
Note: If you have not set up an AI Outreach Agent, click on Save as draft and go to the settings to set it up. You can find a description of the process here: How to set up AI Outreach Agent.
Select an AI Outreach Agent from the list.
The setup is done!
Click Continue to go to the next phase: Template Setup.
2. Template Setup
2. Template Setup
In this phase of template creation, you will connect your template with a company pitch and a lead list.
Preparation:
If you haven't set up the lead search and company pitch for your campaign, click here to learn how to do it:
Select Company Pitch: Select a company pitch from the drop-down list.
Select Lead Search: Select the lead search for your campaign from the drop-down list.
Choose Example Lead: Select one lead from your lead search. This lead will be used as an example for the creation of the template in the next phase.
Save Progress: Click Save as draft to save your progress.
Click Next to go to the next phase: Template Editor.
3. Template Editor
3. Template Editor
Now it is time to craft your campaign messages! With a little help from dealcode.ai, you will create a sequence of 4 messages that will be sent in your campaign.
Your leads will receive 4 messages one after another according to the timing you set up in your AI Outreach Campaign (Learn more here). When a lead replies to an email, dealcode.ai stops the messaging.
❗ dealcode.ai can only track when a lead replies to an email. If the lead follows a link that is outside of dealcode.ai, you must put this lead on the blacklist so that they are not contacted again through your campaign in dealcode.ai!
Learn about blacklisting here.
Step 1: Draft the 1st message in the Editor
Type a draft of your message in the Editor box on the left side.
Place your cursor where you want to insert a placeholder.
Above the box, find the placeholders you set up earlier. Navigate through the tabs to locate the appropriate placeholder.
Click on the placeholder to insert it into your message.
On the right side, see a preview of the message for the exemplary lead selected in the Template Setup.
Refine your message in the editor until satisfied. Click the arrow icon to refresh the preview and see changes.
The preview will slightly change each time you refresh, as the AI creates a new message from scratch.
Click Save as draft to lock in your progress.
Review your message to ensure high-quality. Follow our 7 tips for high-quality templates.
💡 Full sentences placeholders give the AI more flexibility and increase personalization.
💡 This is just a preview of what your messages can look like in the campaign. You will make further adjustments e.g. the degree of AI personalization later in the Campaign Setup.
👉 Need inspiration for messages? Find examples here.
Step 2: Create Messages 2, 3, and 4
Once you are happy with your first message, click the arrow in the top right corner of the Editor box to open the editor for the next message.
Draft the next 3 messages for your email sequence, just like you did for the first message.
When you are finished editing, click Next to proceed to the next phase: Subject Lines.
4. Subject lines
4. Subject lines
Your messages are ready to go; the finishing touch will be the subject lines of your emails. Again, you will be working with the placeholders you chose in Placeholder Setup.
The messages in your campaign will be sent as an email thread to your recipient. This means, your leads will receive four messages with the same subject line.
You can enter up to three subject lines per message. If you provide more than one subject line per message, those lines will be randomly tested in your campaign to determine which one leads to the highest open rates and conversions.
Enter Subject Line:
Type your subject line into the editor box.
Place your cursor where you want to insert a placeholder.
Above the box, find and navigate through the tabs to locate the appropriate placeholder.
Click on the placeholder to insert it into your subject line.
Preview Subject Line:
On the right side, see a preview of what the subject line will look like for the exemplary lead selected in Template Setup.
Save Progress and Proceed:
Click Save as draft.
Click Next to go to the final phase: Confirmation
5. Confirmation
5. Confirmation
It’s time for a final review of your template!
Final Review
Check all 4 messages thoroughly one last time. Once you save the template, you will not be able to make any changes.
Use the arrows to go through all your messages.
If you find mistakes or want to make changes, click on the phases at the top of the page to adjust your settings.
Finalize Template:
All set? Click on Confirm and save template to add your template to the Template Library.
❗ You will not be able to make any changes once you click Confirm and save template! If you have any doubts, click Save as draft and return to your template once you are ready to finalize it.
Video Guide: Generate Templates
How to delete a template
How to delete a template
To delete a template, click the three dots on the right and choose Delete.
How to reuse a template
How to reuse a template
If you want to reuse or modify an existing template, you can do so without having to start from scratch! You can duplicate an existing template. Y
To duplicate a template, click the three dots on the right and choose Duplicate.
👉 You can duplicate templates in Draft and Completed status. The duplicate of your template will have Draft status.
What's next?
Your template is set up - time to set up your AI Cold Outreach campaign! Get step by step instructions here: How to set up an AI Outreach campaign