What are templates?
Templates are reusable email designs that you use in campaigns, automations, and test sends. Instead of writing HTML from scratch every time, you build a template once and reuse it wherever you need it. Each template stores the subject line, sender, HTML body, and plain text version — along with any personalization variables.Creating a template
Go to Templates and click Create Template. A new draft template is created with a default name, and you’re taken straight to the editor.The editor
SendKit uses a visual editor where you type and format content directly — no HTML knowledge needed. Type/ to open the command menu and insert any block.
Available blocks
Text
Paragraph, Heading 1–3, Bullet list, Numbered list, Quote, Code block, Link
Media
Image (upload), YouTube embed, X/Twitter embed
Layout
Button (CTA), Divider, Section, Social links
Utility
Raw HTML, Variable
Auto-save
The editor saves automatically as you type. You’ll see a save indicator in the header — no need to manually save.Template settings
In the editor sidebar, you can configure:| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Internal name for organizing templates (recipients don’t see this) |
| Subject | Email subject line. Supports variables like {{FIRST_NAME}} |
| From | Select a sender to use as the “from” address |
| Reply-To | Optional reply-to email address |
Personalization variables
Templates support dynamic variables that are replaced with each recipient’s data when the email is sent.Built-in variables
| Variable | Replaced with |
|---|---|
{{EMAIL}} | Contact’s email address |
{{FIRST_NAME}} | Contact’s first name |
{{LAST_NAME}} | Contact’s last name |
{{FULL_NAME}} | First and last name combined |
{{USER_ID}} | Contact’s user ID |
Custom variables
Any property you create is automatically available as a variable. For example, a property with keycompany_name becomes {{COMPANY_NAME}}.
Fallback values
Each variable can have a fallback value — used when the contact doesn’t have that data set. For example,{{FIRST_NAME}} with fallback "there" renders as “Hello, there” for contacts without a first name.
Variables work in both the subject line and the template body. You can add up to 50 variables per template.
Publishing
Templates have two statuses:| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Draft | Work in progress. Can be edited freely but cannot be used in campaigns |
| Published | Ready to use. Can be selected when creating campaigns and automations |
Preview and test
Preview
The template detail page has three tabs:- Preview — Rendered HTML as recipients will see it
- HTML — Raw HTML source code with copy button
- Plain Text — Auto-generated plain text version
Send a test email
Click Send test email from the template detail page or editor. Enter a recipient email (defaults to your own) and optionally fill in variable values to see how personalization looks.Test emails have “[Test]” prefixed to the subject line so you can easily identify them in your inbox.
Duplicating a template
Click Duplicate from the template dropdown menu. A copy is created with “(Copy)” appended to the name. The duplicate starts as a Draft regardless of the original’s status. All content, variables, and settings are copied — except images and the sender selection.Deleting a template
A template can only be deleted if it’s not used by any campaign. Remove it from all campaigns first.Templates that aren’t referenced by any campaign can be deleted. Deleted templates are soft-deleted — the data is preserved for email history.
Images
You can upload images directly in the editor. Images are stored and served by SendKit — no need for external hosting. Maximum file size is 5 MB per image.Using templates in campaigns and automations
When creating a campaign or an automation email step, you select a published template. The template’s subject, sender, and body are used, with variables replaced per contact at send time.FAQ
Do I need to know HTML?
Do I need to know HTML?
No. The visual editor lets you build emails by typing and using the slash command menu. For advanced users, you can insert raw HTML blocks if needed.
Can I edit a template after it's used in a campaign?
Can I edit a template after it's used in a campaign?
Yes, but changes won’t affect emails that were already sent. Sent emails store a snapshot of the template at the time of sending.
Is a plain text version generated automatically?
Is a plain text version generated automatically?
Yes. SendKit automatically generates a plain text version from your HTML content. You don’t need to create it manually.
How many templates can I create?
How many templates can I create?
There’s no limit. Create as many templates as you need.
Can I use the same template in multiple campaigns?
Can I use the same template in multiple campaigns?
Yes. Templates are reusable — you can select the same template for any number of campaigns and automations.