Effective automation isn't just about sending messages; it's about sending the right message at the right time. The key to this is personalization. Before you can build a workflow, you need to create the content that powers it. This guide will walk you through setting up your email and SMS templates, from basic personalization to advanced, product-specific messaging.
First, you need to find where your templates live. This is the central hub for all the pre-written content you'll use in your automated workflows.
From the main dashboard, click on Settings in the left-hand navigation menu.
Under the "Communication" section, select Email / SMS Templates.
This is where you'll write the actual content for your emails or text messages.
On the "Email / SMS Templates" page, click the blue Add Template button.
A window will pop up. Give your template a clear Template Name for internal reference (e.g., "LSA Automation - Email 1 Introduction").
Choose the Template Type (Email or SMS).
Click Create.
Now you can write your message and make it personal by using Merge Tags. These are dynamic placeholders that automatically pull in information specific to each contact.
Write your Subject Line and Body Content.
To add personalization, click the icon {{}} to open the merge tag menu.
Select the information you want to insert, such as:
{{contact.first_name}} to greet the person by name.
{{contact.company}} to reference their company.
{{contact.city}} to mention their location.
This turns a generic subject like "An offer for you" into a highly personalized one like "Google endorses ACME Corp in Alpharetta."
For truly powerful outreach, you can create your own custom fields to personalize messages based on specific data you have about a contact. This is perfect for product-specific marketing, like Pay-Per-Result SEO.
First, go to Settings > Custom Fields and create a field for the unique data you want to use (e.g., "Niche Keyword 1" or "Competitor Name").
When you upload your contact list (CSV file), include columns that match these custom fields.
Now, you can use these custom fields as merge tags in your templates.
For example, your email could say: "Our quick check shows your company isn't showing up for terms like {{niche_keyword_1}}. We can help you rank for high-intent keywords your clients are already searching for."
This level of detail shows you've done your research and makes your outreach incredibly relevant.
Creating well-written, personalized templates is the essential first step to building successful automation. By using both standard and custom merge tags, you can engage with businesses on topics that are real and meaningful to them, dramatically increasing your chances of getting a response.
