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

# SMS templates

> Create reusable text messages and personalize them with client, sender, and company information.

SMS templates help your team send consistent text messages without rewriting common responses and reminders. Applying a template fills the message composer, where you can review and edit the text before sending.

## Company-wide vs book-specific

* **Company templates** are available in every book.
* **Book templates** are available only in the selected book.

Any team member can manage company-wide and book-specific SMS templates. Use the **Company** and book tabs at the top of the page to switch between scopes.

## Create an SMS template

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to SMS template settings">
    Go to **Settings** → **Data customizations** → **SMS templates**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the scope">
    Choose **Company** for a company-wide template, or select a book for a book-specific template.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start a template">
    Click **New SMS template**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the message">
    Add a **Name** that helps your team recognize the template, then enter the reusable text in **Message**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create the template">
    Click **Create**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

The new template appears in the selected scope.

## Personalize a template with variables

Variables fill in details when you apply a template from a record's **Phone** tab. Place your cursor in **Message**, click **Insert variable**, and select a value.

Available variables include:

* **General** — the current date
* **Household** — the household name, leader names, and meeting dates
* **Head of household** and **Spouse/partner** — names and job titles
* **Contact** — the other contact's full name or first name
* **Sender** — your name and scheduling link
* **Company** — the company name and book scheduling link
* **Custom fields** — supported household custom fields

<Note>
  A variable fills only when that information exists on the record where you apply the template. Review the personalized message before sending it.
</Note>

Messages can contain up to 1,000 characters. If personalization makes the finished message longer than 1,000 characters, Slant does not apply the template.

## Edit or find a template

Use **Search templates...** to filter templates by name or message. Click **Edit template**, update the **Name** or **Message**, then click **Save**.

Changes affect future uses of the template. They do not change messages that were already sent.

## Clone a template

Click **Clone template** to create a copy with a new name.

* From **Company**, leave **Book** set to **All books** to keep the copy company-wide, or select one book to create a book-specific copy.
* From a book, the copy stays in that book.

## Delete a template

Click **Delete template**, then click **Delete** to confirm.

<Warning>
  Deleting an SMS template is permanent. Messages already sent from the template remain in their conversations.
</Warning>

## Apply a template to a message

Company-wide templates and templates from the current book appear in the SMS composer.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open a conversation">
    Open the **Phone** tab on a client, prospect, other contact, or business, then select a recipient.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the template picker">
    Click **Apply template** beside the message field.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select a template">
    Search by name or message, then select a template. Slant fills its variables using the current record.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review the message">
    Edit the personalized text as needed, then send it normally.
  </Step>
</Steps>

If the composer already contains text, click **Replace** to replace it with the selected template or **Cancel** to keep your draft.

<Note>
  Sending a text still requires an SMS-capable [phone integration](/setting-up-slant/integrations/phone), a recipient phone number, and an available sending number.
</Note>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Phone and SMS" icon="phone" href="/setting-up-slant/integrations/phone">
    Connect a phone provider and send text messages from Slant
  </Card>

  <Card title="Email templates" icon="mail" href="/account-settings/customization/email-templates">
    Create reusable emails with subjects, formatting, and attachments
  </Card>
</CardGroup>