Message Templates

Use Message Templates to create reusable email and text-message content for Drip Drop flows. The sidebar item Message is under Templates. Message templates keeps message content separate from the flow logic that sends it.

Tip
Create templates before building production flows so you can preview and test message content safely.
  1. Sign in and open the dashboard.
  2. Choose Templates from the sidebar.
  3. Use the table, search, type filters, status filters, tag filters, and stats cards to find existing templates.

The Message Templates page shows both email templates and text-message templates. The table columns are Name, Type, Description, Status, Tags, Created, and Last Modified. Created is hidden by default. Stats cards show Total Templates, Email Templates, and Text Templates.

Note
The Type filter labels text-message templates as SMS, while the Add Template menu labels the same template type as Text Message.
  1. Start with Search when you know the template name, description, or another identifying word.
  2. Narrow the result set with Type, Status, and Tag filters. Use SMS in the Type filter to find templates created as Text Message templates.
  3. Review the row details before opening a template. Use Name and Description to identify the content, Type to confirm the matching flow block, Status to check whether it is ready for production use, and Tags to confirm its intended audience or campaign.
  4. Use the stats cards as a quick check on the current template inventory. If the count or a template seems unexpected, clear search and filters before assuming the template is missing.
  5. Open the relevant template to update its content, description, status, or tags. Keep Draft templates for work in progress, use Active templates for production-ready content, and use Archived for templates you want to retain without keeping them in normal use.

Choose New Template, then select Email or Text Message (The list table may show text-message templates with the shorter label SMS.).

  • Email templates support a subject plus email body content.
  • Text Message templates use a shorter SMS-style body and appear as SMS in the table Type filter.
  • Use the type that matches the flow block that will send the message.
  1. Enter a clear template name.
  2. Add an optional description so teammates know when to use it.
  3. Choose a status.
  4. Add tags if your workspace uses them for organization.

Use Draft for work in progress, Active for templates ready to use in production flows, and Archived for old templates you want to keep out of normal use. These same statuses are available as table filters.

05 Write the Message Content

Write Email Content

Email templates can include a subject plus body content. The email body editor has Editor, Source, and Plain Text tabs, and the preview panel can show the subject plus HTML or plain-text output.

  • Write a clear subject line.
  • Add the email body.
  • Use Editor for rich HTML editing, Source to inspect or edit HTML, and Plain Text for the text fallback.
  • Preview the subject and the body output before saving. The preview replaces supported variables with sample values.

Write SMS/Text Content

Text-message templates should be short, clear, and safe to send to a test contact first. The SMS editor includes an emoji picker, a character counter, and a segment counter.

  • Keep the message concise.
  • Watch the GSM/Unicode character counter and segment count. Unicode characters reduce the per-segment limit.
  • If branded messages apply, account for the Sent with dripdrop.dev suffix in the final length. The preview and counter include this suffix.
  • If you include %%UNSUBSCRIBE_URL%%, the SMS counter estimates the generated unsubscribe URL length rather than only the placeholder text.

Templates can include variables that Drip Drop replaces with contact, custom-field, flow, or enrollment values when the message is sent. The preview uses sample values so you can check the final wording before saving.

  • Examples shown in the app include {{contact.first_name}} and {{contact.last_name}}.
  • Custom-field examples can use patterns such as {{contact.custom.company_name}}.
  • Use %%UNSUBSCRIBE_URL%% where an unsubscribe link is required.
  • Preview with sample values before using the template in a flow. If branded messages apply, preview also shows the Sent with dripdrop.dev suffix.
  • More information on variables can be found here: Message Template Variables and Filters

Tip: Use the bracket symbols in the body editor to easily add variables.

Use the preview panel to inspect the message before it is sent from a flow. On smaller screens, use the Editor and Preview toggle to switch between editing and previewing.

  • Review email subject and body previews.
  • Compare HTML and plain-text output when available.
  • Check SMS preview and character length.
  • Use sample contact values to make sure variables read naturally.

If AI assistance is enabled and an AI provider is connected, open the AI Assistant tab while editing a message template. You can add an AI provider from the assistant if none exists, choose the provider, generate new content, or improve existing content.

  • For email templates, choose HTML or Plain Text output before generating AI content.
  • Use Generate New to draft from instructions, or Improve Existing after you already have template content.

After saving a template, choose it from the matching message block in a flow. Email blocks use email templates; text-message blocks use text-message templates, which may be labeled SMS in filters and tables.

  • Use Active templates for production flows.
  • Keep Draft templates for content that is still being edited.
  • Test a template with a safe contact before enrolling a real list.
No templates are visible
  • Clear search, type, status, or tag filters.
  • Confirm you are in the correct workspace.
Template is missing from a flow block
  • Confirm the template type matches the block type.
  • Check whether the template status needs to be Active for the place you are selecting it.
  • Refresh the flow editor if the template was created in another tab.
Variables are not replaced
  • Check the variable spelling and braces.
  • Confirm the contact or custom field has a value.
  • Preview with sample contact data before sending.
AI assistant is not available
  • Confirm an AI provider is connected if your workspace uses AI-assisted template writing.
  • Check Settings for AI enablement and Admin → Integrations for ChatGPT or Claude provider setup, depending on your workspace configuration.

Integrations: Connect providers that send the messages.

Contacts: Prepare the recipients who will receive template content.

Flows: Learn how templates fit into automation.

Flow Blocks: Select templates inside email and text-message blocks.

Unsubscribe and Public Pages: Understand unsubscribe links and public recipient actions.