---
title: Templates
description: Templates are reusable email designs that let you maintain consistency and save time. Instead of creating a new design for every campaign, build a template once
---
# Templates
## What Are Templates?
Templates are reusable email designs that let you maintain consistency and save time. Instead of creating a new design for every campaign, build a template once and use it repeatedly.
**Benefits:**
- **Consistency** — Keep branding and design consistent across all emails
- **Speed** — Save hours by reusing rather than redesigning
- **Maintenance** — Update design once; changes apply to all emails using template
- **Personalization** — Automatically insert subscriber names, emails, and other details
- **Compliance** — Ensure unsubscribe and web view links always included
**Common uses:**
- Monthly newsletters
- Product announcement template
- Promotional email template
- Event notification template
- Transactional email confirmation
---
## Quick Start: Import Built-In Templates
Laravel Mail Platform includes a library of pre-built professional templates. Import them with one command:
```bash
php artisan app:import-templates
```
This downloads and imports all available templates to your workspace. You can then:
- Use templates as-is
- Customize them for your brand
- Use as inspiration for custom templates
---
## Accessing Templates
### View All Templates
See all templates in your workspace:
1. Click **Templates** in the sidebar
2. You'll see a list of all your templates with:
- Template name
- Creation date
- Last modified date
- Edit/Duplicate/Delete options
- How many campaigns use this template
### Search Templates
Find templates by name:
- Type in search box to filter
- Partial matches work
- Real-time filtering
---
## Creating Templates
### Manual Creation (From Scratch)
Build a custom template:
1. Go to **Templates**
2. Click **+ New Template**
3. Fill in template details:
- **Name** — Clear, descriptive name (e.g., "Newsletter Template", "Product Launch")
- **Content** — HTML email design
4. Include the required `\{\\{content\}\\}` placeholder
5. Click **Save**
### Template Basics
Every template needs:
**1. Valid HTML Structure**
```html
Email
```
**2. Required `\{\\{content\}\\}` Placeholder**
This marks where your campaign message will be inserted:
```html
\{\\{content\}\\}
```
When you send a campaign using this template, the campaign's message replaces `\{\\{content\}\\}`.
### Basic Template Example
Here's a complete minimal template:
```html
```
---
## Personalizing Templates with Tags
### Available Personalization Tags
Use these tags to automatically insert subscriber information:
| Tag | Inserts | Example |
|-----|---------|---------|
| `\{\\{content\}\\}` | Campaign message | *(Required in every template)* |
| `\{\\{email\}\\}` | Subscriber's email | john@example.com |
| `\{\\{first_name\}\\}` | Subscriber's first name | John |
| `\{\\{last_name\}\\}` | Subscriber's last name | Smith |
| `\{\\{unsubscribe_url\}\\}` | Unsubscribe link URL | `https://example.com/unsubscribe/abc123` |
| `\{\\{webview_url\}\\}` | View in browser URL | `https://example.com/webview/def456` |
### Tag Syntax
Tags use double curly braces: `\{\\{ tag_name \}\\}`
Spacing is flexible—these are equivalent:
```html
\{\\{email\}\\}
\{\\{ email \}\\}
\{\\{ email \}\\}
```
### Using Personalization Tags
**In your template HTML:**
```html
Hello \{\\{first_name\}\\},
We have your email on file as: \{\\{email\}\\}
Hi \{\\{first_name\}\\}, here's what's new this month
Dear \{\\{first_name\}\\} \{\\{last_name\}\\},
```
### Handling Missing Data
If a subscriber doesn't have a first name, `\{\\{first_name\}\\}` displays empty. Handle this gracefully:
**Option 1: Use fallback text**
```html
Hello \{\\{first_name\}\\},
```
**Option 2: Provide default**
```html
Hello \{\\{first_name|Valued Subscriber\}\\},
```
**Option 3: Only use reliable data**
```html
Hello \{\\{email\}\\},
```
### Personalization Example Template
```html
Welcome, \{\\{first_name\}\\}!
Hi \{\\{first_name\}\\} \{\\{last_name\}\\},
We're excited to have you on our mailing list.
\{\\{content\}\\}
Questions? Reply to this email.
Unsubscribe from these emails
```
---
## URL Tags: Creating Links
### `\{\\{unsubscribe_url\}\\}` — Let Subscribers Opt Out
Generates unique unsubscribe URL for each subscriber. **Important:** You must create the HTML link yourself.
**Correct usage (creates clickable link):**
```html
Unsubscribe from this list
```
Renders as: [Unsubscribe from this list](link)
**Incorrect usage (just shows URL as text):**
```html
\{\\{unsubscribe_url\}\\}
```
Renders as: `https://example.com/unsubscribe/abc123xyz` ← plain text, not clickable
### `\{\\{webview_url\}\\}` — View in Browser
Generates unique URL to view email in web browser. Useful for subscribers whose email client doesn't render well, or they want to share the email.
**Correct usage:**
```html
View this email in your browser
```
Renders as: [View this email in your browser](link)
**Incomplete usage (just URL):**
```html
\{\\{webview_url\}\\}
```
Shows URL as plain text, not clickable.
### Complete Link Footer Example
```html
```
---
## Styling Templates with CSS
### CSS in Email Templates
Email clients have limited CSS support compared to web browsers. Laravel Mail Platform handles this by **inlining CSS automatically**.
**What this means:**
- Write normal CSS in `