---
title: Message templates
slug: campaign/docs/message-templates
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-20T15:45:18.343Z
---

## Overview

### Purpose of message templates

Use message templates to prepare contents for sending via [Smart Campaigns](docId\:R5uUa03fN0LjqmSAh30Ol) or [transactional campaigns](docId\:o8JNgomieowXJr-ysCk5u). When configuring a message node in a campaign, you can select a message template for creating the message draft, so you do not have to start creating the message draft from scratch.

### [message-templates.mdx](docId\:BdsrDhOD_2jGO8wTwIjN8)Contents of message templates

Message Templates are fully configurable with sender details and recipient parameters, ready for immediate use in Smart Campaigns and transactional messages. They streamline workflow efficiency by maintaining consistent branded elements like headers and disclaimers across your emails. New message templates can be based on another message template or on a message draft.

Editing message templates works just like editing message drafts. For information how to add content to a message template, see the [Design Editor](docId\:ZW0iAns9tpH4KxxY_WOo6) documentation or the [Template Kit Editor](docId\:rD-VtF8elYloBPhROMnqf) documentation.

### No synchronized Rows

The feature *synchronized rows* of the Design Editor for emails is not currently supported for message templates. When editing a message template, saving rows as synchronized rows is not possible. When selecting a message draft for creating a message template, message drafts with synchronized rows cannot be selected.

### Opening the page *message templates*

**Prerequisites:** You are logged in in Optimizely Campaign.

1. In the menu bar, select *Campaigns > Message Templates*.

## Working with message templates

### [message-templates.mdx](docId\:BdsrDhOD_2jGO8wTwIjN8)Creating a message template

**Prerequisites:** You see the page *Message Templates*.

1. On top of the page, select the tab for the type of template you want to create: If you want to use the Design Editor for emails, select the *Email (Beta Editor)* tab, if you want to use the old Template Kit editor, select the *Email* tab.
2. Click *Create…*
   → The page *Select message template* is displayed.
3. From the drop-down list, select an option:
   - *New*. Create a new message template from scratch. Click *New* in the left-hand area and select *Empty message* in the right-hand area. If you started from the tab *Email*, you can also select content templates for the Template Kit editor.
   - *Message*. Apply contents from an existing message draft to this message template. Click *Message* in the left column then select a message draft from the list on the right.
   - *Message template*. Apply the contents and configuration of an existing message template. Click *Message template* in the left column, then select the template from the right.
4. Click *Next* to edit the message template.
   → The message template is opened in the appropriate editor.
5. Edit and save the message template the same way as a message draft.

### [message-templates.mdx](docId\:U4doAsilJp9v7hCuah63u)Copying a message template

**Context:** This procedure does the same as creating a message template and selecting *Message Template* (see *Creating a message template* above). Use it as a shortcut.

**Prerequisites:** You see the page *Message Templates*. There is at least one message template.

1. Select a message template in the list.
2. Below the list, click *Copy…\
*→ The contents are displayed in the appropriate editor.
3. Edit and save the message template the same way as a message draft.

### [message-templates.mdx](docId\:U4doAsilJp9v7hCuah63u)Editing a message template

**Prerequisites:** You see the page *Message Templates*. There is at least one message template.

1. Select a message template in the list.
2. Click *Edit…\
*→ The message template is opened in the appropriate editor.
3. Edit and save the message template the same way as a message draft.
   **Attention:** If you save the message template with a new name, the existing template is overwritten and renamed. Your edited version is not saved as a copy!
   → The message template is updated.

### [message-templates.mdx](docId\:U4doAsilJp9v7hCuah63u)Deleting a message template

**Prerequisites:** You see the page *Message Templates*. There is at least one message template.

1. Select a message template in the list.
2. Click *Delete*.
   → The message template is deleted.