How do I set up templates for Automation?

Create a template then set it up with the specific conditions needed for your intended automation event. Head to Automation and set it as the template.

Written By Danny Schaffer

First, you’ll need to build an Automation Template in your company admin account; then you can go about setting your Zephyr template as an Automation Template.

Creating an Automation Template

Creating a Zephyr Automation template begins just like any other.

  1. Hover over Templates, then click Create New Template.

  2. In the New Template screen, add a Title and Subject Line, and select a Layout from which to start.

  3. Click Save to create your template.

An image showing the "New Template" interface that allows you to set your TItle and Default subject line, then use a starter layout or start from a Blank design.

Editing your Template

After you click Save, you'll land on the Template Details page. Here you can see some useful information about the template itself:

  1. Set your Title, Subject Line, Preheader (if desired), and Editability settings.

  • Title: This is only visible during the Template selection process itself for you and in the agent account to show them what template is associated with the Automation Event. It is not contact-facing.

  • Subject Line: A Default Subject Line is required for all templates. Make sure this is not spammy, as it is what contacts will see if the email goes out automatically.

  • Preheader: The Preheader may be a field you want to fill out or leave blank. A Listing template may be better with the Preheader left blank for agents to customize, while the Labor Day 2026 Automation template could benefit from a preheader.

  • Editability: This determines if your team can edit template content and, if so, which types of rows they can add to the template.

  1. Save Changes if you added or changed any text.

  2. Click Edit to work on your template’s design.

The Template Details page of a template that is geared toward Labor Day. The Title, Subject Line, and Preheader are all filled with content. The "Save Changes" button needs to be clicked.

Automation Template Guidelines

There are some things to consider when you're setting up this template for Automation success:

  • Correct number of Listing and Agent tags: For Listing Automation, this means 1 agent and 1 listing. For Contact Automation, this means 1 agent, and 0 listings.

  • Your agents can edit their content depending on your 'Editability' setting for the template; however, Automation templates are meant to be truly "ready to send". Don't place any content that agents need to replace manually.

  • Set your images to Dynamic: Using the "Dynamic Image" toggle and dropping in the appropriate tag in the "Dynamic URL" box allows the correct listing image to pull into the final piece.

  • Don't mix tag types: Agent and Listing tags pull information from different places. It is best to keep those in separate rows.

  • Link Everything: You want to give your agents' contacts every opportunity to reach a listing's website. Don't forget to link images, buttons, or text to the Listing or Agent Website!

A gif showing a listing photo made dynamic using the "Dynamic Image" toggle and a Listing Photo tag.

Is my template ready to use?

There are some simple checks that you can go through to see if your template is ready to add as an Automation template:

  • Does my template only have the correct number of tags? - Automation templates should have 1 agent tag, and either 0 or 1 listing tag for Contact and Listing automation, respectively.

  • Does this template look "send ready"? - While the agent may be able to make edits based on how editable you've made the template, some may send without looking to edit, so we recommend you make sure you don't have anything that needs to be changed before sending (aside from dynamic tags, which will be replaced)

  • Are the buttons and images linked to the proper dynamic tags? - Make sure to link the images and buttons for the template to the Listing Link tag.

  • If you have social media icons, did you link them either to tags or static links?- This falls in with the other linking, but is sometimes a step that folks forget. Remember, agents can't change anything in this piece, so set up your links with tags (and don't forget to maintain your Company Links page)

  • Don't forget to save your changes! - Not a question, I know. But it is always a good practice to save often!

A gif showing the "Save and Exit" option used at the top right of the template editor.

Setting your Zephyr template as an Automation Template

1Once your design is ready to go, set it up as the Automation event.

  1. Hover over Automation in the main menu, then click on the event type you’re looking to replace.

A gif showing the cursor hovering over Automation then clicking on Listing Automation to change the Listing Automation settings.

  1. Locate the specific event you’re looking to swap out the template for,

  2. Click Settings for that Automation Event.

  3. Click the Change Template button. This will take you to the template selection step for this Automation Event.

  4. Find your template, then click the blue Select button underneath it.

Note: If the template you created is not available here, it may mean the template lacks the proper setup to be used for this event.

  • Listing Automation: 1 Dynamic Listing (no more, no less), 1 Dynamic Agent, no Dynamic Articles

  • Contact Automation: 1 Dynamic Agent, no dynamic Listings or Articles)

  • Seasonal Automation: 1 Dynamic Agent, no dynamic Listings or Articles)

  1. Click Save Changes to complete the switch.

A gif showing the "New Listings" settings button clicked. On the next page, the Change Template option is used to select a new template. The Save Changes button is then used to save the new template in place for the automation event.