> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.guhan.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Write message templates

> Reusable briefs you can pick from anywhere.

Templates are pre-written **briefs** — you describe what a message should say, Guhan personalizes the exact wording per prospect.

## Where to manage templates

**Brand & Voice → Templates**. All your templates in one table.

## The 10 defaults Guhan ships

Every new workspace gets these built-in. Read-only (clone to customize):

| Template                                    | Channels              | When to use                     |
| ------------------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| Cold connect · no pitch                     | LinkedIn invite       | First-touch, no ask             |
| First message after connect · deliver value | LinkedIn DM + email   | Right after invite accepted     |
| Signal hook — funding raise                 | DM + email + WhatsApp | After they raised               |
| Signal hook — hiring                        | DM + email + WhatsApp | After they posted jobs          |
| Signal hook — post engagement               | LinkedIn DM           | After they engaged with a post  |
| Follow-up · new value (Day 7)               | DM + email + WhatsApp | Adding new angle mid-sequence   |
| Channel shift · 10-min call ask             | DM + email + WhatsApp | Nudge for a call                |
| Break-up · graceful close                   | DM + email + WhatsApp | End-of-sequence "one last note" |
| First email · async version                 | Email only            | Cold email opener               |
| Substantive post comment                    | LinkedIn post comment | Public engagement               |

## Creating a new template

<Steps>
  <Step title="Brand & Voice → Templates → + New template">
    Top-right button.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Give it a name">
    "Signal hook — new leadership" or "Break-up — direct".
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick channels">
    Which channels can use this template — LinkedIn DM, email, WhatsApp, comment, invite. Multi-select.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Write the brief">
    A short paragraph describing WHAT to say — not the exact words.

    Good:

    > Congratulate them on the funding announcement. Reference the specific round and lead investor if visible. Offer a specific value angle relevant to their stage.

    Bad:

    > `Hi {firstName}, saw that {companyName} raised! Congrats!`
    > (Bad because it's the literal template; Guhan wants intent + context.)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Optional: fetch recent post">
    For DM channels, opt in to fetching the prospect's most recent LinkedIn post at send time. Guhan uses it as the opener. Costs 1 credit per fetch.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Optional: subject brief (for email)">
    A short prompt for the subject line. Guhan generates the actual subject per prospect.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Template is now available in any Outreach Agent's sequence steps.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Using a template in a sequence

Any Send step → "Start from template" dropdown → pick your template.

The step gets pre-filled with the template's brief + channel. You can:

* Use the brief as-is (recommended)
* Edit for this specific step (overrides the template)
* Change channels if the step's channel is one of the template's supported channels

<Note>
  Editing a template doesn't retroactively change sequences that started from it. Each sequence step captures the brief at creation time.
</Note>

## Cloning + customizing a default

<Steps>
  <Step title="Find the default template">
    Templates table → click the template name.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Clone">
    Kebab menu → **Clone**. You get a new editable copy.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rename + edit">
    Give it your own name + tweak the brief to match your voice.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Your custom version now shows up in the picker alongside the default.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Tips for writing effective briefs

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Be specific about the opener">
    `Reference their post on {topic}` > "Compliment their content."

    "Congratulate the specific Series A + name-drop the lead VC if visible" > "Say congrats."
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Include the value angle">
    "Offer one specific insight from working with 3 other Series A founders in the same 90-day window" beats "Offer to help".
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Constrain length + format">
    "3 short paragraphs, no signature" or "1 sentence, question format" — Guhan will honor.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Specify the CTA">
    "Ask if they'd like a 90-second explainer video" — Guhan will end with that ask. Otherwise it'll pick its own.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Anti-patterns to explicitly block">
    "Don't use the phrase 'I hope this finds you well'" or "No emoji" — Guhan strictly obeys.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Filtering the template picker

The Templates table has filters:

* **By tag** — you can tag your templates for organization
* **By channel** — only see templates that support a specific channel
* **By tone** — professional / casual / friendly / direct / playful

Useful when you have 30+ templates and need to find the right one quickly.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Brand & Voice" icon="palette" href="/brand-and-voice/setup">
    Where templates live.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Build a sequence" icon="diagram-project" href="/agents/outreach-agents/build-sequence">
    Using templates in sequence steps.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>