Plain Text Email Templates
Creating email templates is an important step in automating your firm’s processes. It is very easy to create and send emails in Lawmatics, especially plain text emails.
You’ll create your firm’s emails by going to the Assets tab, and selecting Emails from the drop down list. There are two different types of emails you can create, plain text or HTML designed templates. Both of these options are found in the top right corner of the emails page.
The HTML templates are perfect for designing newsletters or announcements. You probably won’t want to use these for any of your regular correspondence with matters, plain text emails are better suited for that. To learn more about using our email design suite, feel free to check out this video.
Some examples of plain text email templates you might want to include in Lawmatics are appointment confirmations and reminders, follow up campaigns, missed appointment check ins, feedback/review requests, and many more.
Click Create Plain Text Email in the top right to create your email template. Enter a name for your email, the name of your email is only visible internally. For the type of the recipient, if you plan on sending this email to clients or PNCs, you will want to choose Matter.
After you have selected Matter as the Recipient Type, you will see the option to select a practice area. Selecting a practice area is optional, and is only necessary if you have created any practice area fields that you want to merge into the email. If that is not the case, feel free to leave None selected.
Once you click create email, you will see the screen pictured below. Here you can either draft your email template, or if you already have email templates prepared you can copy and paste in the text. You have access to all of your fields if you want to merge anything into the email, as we have done below.
In the email editor you have all standard formatting options like colors, bullet points, hyperlinks, etc. You can also merge fields into the subject line as well as email body, if you would like.
The preheader is optional to include, this text will be shown under the subject line in the recipient’s inbox.
There is no need to include your email signature here in the email template, instead you will create your email signature by going to settings, and then selecting my settings in the top left and enter your email signature in the box provided. You will have the option to automatically include the proper sender's email signature when sending this email.
Select the toggle for Promotional Email if you would like to include an unsubscribe link with the email. You probably won’t need this for any of your regular correspondence like appointment confirmations, but if you’re sending out any marketing emails then you’ll likely want to make them promotional. If anyone clicks unsubscribe, they will automatically be prevented from receiving any more promotional emails from you in the future.
After you’ve created an email, it will live in the Your Emails section on the emails page. You can use the icons on the far right to edit, send, delete, or view stats on the email. You will see the send icon circled below on the right.
If you don’t see the icons in your window, you may need to scroll over further to the right. When you click send, you’ll be able to select who you want the email to come from, who the recipient is, if you want to CC/BCC anyone, if there are any attachments, and if you would like to include the sender’s signature.
This is just one of the ways to send an email from Lawmatics, keep in mind that you can also send both plain text and HTML emails via automation. All of the templates you see in the Your Emails section will be available to select from when adding a Send Email Action to an automation.
FAQ's
Can I still include links in a plain text email?
Yes, you can simply paste in a hyperlink to any of your plain text emails. If you wish to hide the link behind alternate text, such as "click here", you will do this using the chain link icon in the plain text email editor. Simply highlight the text that you wish to show the link, then click the link icon, and then paste in your link in the box provided and click the check mark to save.
Can I have pictures in a plain text email?
Yes, you can paste in images or use the image icon found in the editor to upload an image file to your plain text email.
How do I add attachments to an email template?
You actually won't save attachments on the template itself, rather you will select attachments when sending an email, either manually or via automation. First you will need to hover on the orange plus sign in the top right, select Upload File, and upload any files you wish to attach. Then, when sending an email, you will see an attachments option where you can select from any of your uploaded files.