Create & manage a Template Message
How and where are template messages used?
When you send an invoice, payment request, or payment reminder to a customer via text or email, you can choose from the available template messages that will be automatically inserted in the text or email message. This feature makes it easy and convenient for you to communicate with your customers, especially when you have multiple staff members communicating with them and want to control the communication with your customers.
Paysley provides you with ready-to-use template messages for both single and recurring payment requests, which you can use. However, we recommend adding your own message templates that will best represent your business.
You can create multiple template messages. Each message should clearly inform your customer or donor of the purpose of their payment, and you should use the available hashtags (#tags) to include unique information for each message automatically.
Create a Template Message
Step 1: Go to the Setup Menu by clicking on your email address at the top right. Select ‘Message Template’.
Step 2: Create a new template. Click the ‘+ New Template’ button.
Step 3: When creating a template message, it’s recommended that you give it a name that reflects its purpose. This will make it easier to select the message you want to use when sending an invoice or payment request to a customer.
- Give your message a Template name.
- Provide a subject for the message, which will appear in the email subject line.
- Select whether the template is for single payments or recurring payments from the dropdown box.
- If you wish to make this message your default message, you can toggle the option to ‘YES’.
Step 4: Create your own message in the respective editor boxes
SMS: Create the text message in this editor box. Use the tags to automatically insert detail, like the amount pay and your customer’s name. ALWAYS include the #url# tag to ensure your customer or donor has access to the payment page.
Important: SMS’s are limited to 160 characters. A text message can exceed 160 character but every 160 characters will count as a text message sent.
Email: Create the email message in this editor box. The email editor has HTML formatting tools that allow you to fully customize your message. There are no limitations. There is also no need to include the #url# tag as email will automatically include a payment button.
Step 5: Click the ‘Submit’ button to save your new template message.
From your Template Messages list you can edit, delete & set your default message option.
Tip: It is recommended to delete and create new message templates rather than edit existing templates in order to clear formatting.
Using Tags in your messages
Tags are placeholders that you can use in your message template to show specific details about your payment request. For instance, if you want to create a message template that you’ll send to 100 people, each owing you a different amount of money, you can use the #amount# tag as a placeholder. This way, the tag will automatically display the exact amount you request from each customer or donor.
Tag descriptions
| Tag | Description |
| #ref_number# | Displays the reference number for the transaction. The reference number can be any combination of letters or numbers you’d like to use to identify a single transaction, such as an invoice number.Example:Writing: Please complete your payment, regarding Ref: #ref_number#Will send: Please complete your payment, regarding Ref: ABC-0123 |
| #transaction_date# | Displays the date that the payment transaction was sent.ExampleWriting: Your payment is now available as of #transaction_date#.Will send: Your payment is now available as of 2017-05-23. |
| #amount# | Displays the payment amount requested from the customer or donor. You will set the actual amount when creating your payment request.ExampleWriting: Please complete your payment for the amount of $#amount#.Will send: Please complete your payment for the amount of $20.00. |
| #mobile_no# | Displays the phone number the payment request is sent to (when applicable).ExampleWriting: We have made this payment link available to you by text message via #mobile_no#.Will send: We have made this payment link available to you by text message via +12223334444. |
| #currency# | Displays the currency of the requested payment.ExampleWriting: Please complete your payment for the amount of #currency##amount#.Will send: Please complete your payment for the amount of USD 10.00. |
| #customer_name# | If you have customer data on the recipient of your payment request saved in the ‘My Customers’ page, then you can use this tag to display their name in the payment request.ExampleWriting: Hi #customer_name#! Please follow the link to settle your monthly payment.Will send: Hi Janet Jones! Please follow the link to settle your monthly payment. |
| #expiry_date# | Displays the date your subscription payment link is set to expire.ExampleWriting: This link will expire #expiry_date#.Will send: This link will expire 2021-08-25. |
| #subscription_amount# | Displays the date your subscription payment plan will process its first payment.ExampleWriting: You will be charged #subscription_amount# #currency# monthly.Will send: You will be charged 200 USD monthly. |
| #url# | Displays the payment link. ALWAYS INCLUDE THE #url# TAG IN TEXT MESSAGES IN ORDER TO TAKE PAYMENT.ExampleWriting: Please follow the link to complete your payment: #url#Will send: Please follow the link to complete your payment: http://pysly.com/(payment page short ID) |
| #billing_cycle# | Displays the frequency your customer will be charged on their billing date.ExampleWriting: Your card will be charged on a(n) #billing_cycle# basis.Will send: Your card will be charged on a Quarterly basis |
| #billed_date# | Displays the date your customer will be charged during each payment cycle.ExampleWriting: Your card will be charged on the #billed_date# of every month.Will send: Your card will be charged on the 10th of every month. |
| #scheduled_reference# | Displays the reference number for your scheduled payment.ExampleWriting: Please complete your payment, regarding Ref: #scheduled_ref#.Will send: Please complete your payment, regarding Ref: 0123456789. |
| #start_date# | Displays the date your subscription payment plan will process its first payment.ExampleWriting: Your automatic payments will begin #start_date#.Will send: Your automatic payments will begin 2018-08-25. |
| #subscription_duration_unit# | Displays the unit in which your payment period is specified.ExampleWriting: You will initiate a 12 #subscription_duration_unit# payment plan.Will send: You will initiate a 12 MONTH payment plan. |
| #subscription_duration# | Displays the number of payment periods in your customer’s subscription plan.ExampleWriting: You will initiate a payment plan for #subscription_duration# months.Will send: You will initiate a payment plan for 12 months. |
| #customer_first_name# | If the message’s recipient is saved as a customer, this tag displays the customer’s first name.ExampleWriting: Hello #customer_first_name#! Please follow the link below to pay.Will send: Hello Aaron! Please follow the link below to pay. |
| #subscription_url# | Displays the subscription payment link. ALWAYS INCLUDE THE #subscription_url# TAG IN TEXT MESSAGES IN ORDER TO TAKE PAYMENT.ExampleWriting: Please follow the link to start your payment subscription: #subscription_url#Will send: Please follow the link to start your payment subscription: http://pysly.com/(Payment page short ID) |
| #customer_last_name# | If the message’s recipient is saved as a customer, this tag displays the customer’s last name.ExampleWriting: Hello #customer_name#! Please follow the link below to pay.Will send: Hello Mr. Rodgers! Please follow the link below to pay. |
| #email# | Displays the email address the payment request is sent to (when applicable).ExampleWriting: We have made this payment link available to you at your email address: #email#.Will send: We have made this payment link available to you at your email address: [email protected] |
| #salutation# | If the message’s recipient is saved as a customer, this tag display’s the customer’s salutation.ExampleWriting: Hello, #salutation# Aaron Rodgers. Please follow the link below to pay.Will send: Hello, Mr. Aaron Rodgers. Please follow the link below to pay. |
| #transaction_date# | Displays the date that the payment transaction was sent.ExampleWriting: Your payment is now available as of #transaction_date#.Will send: Your payment is now available as of 2017-05-23. |