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The Communication Setup page allows you to view and edit the automated email and SMS templates that are sent to customers (and staff) for specific system events, such as abandoned carts, order status changes, subscription events, and appointment notifications. Templates are organized into three tabs based on which part of the system triggers them. This article shows you how to configure and customize your communications. Take a look!

Communication Setup

To get to this area, in the main system menu on the left, click on Content, then on the Content page, click on Communication Setup.

Here is how to work with the message templates on this page:

1. System Areas — By default, you'll start with your storefront website messages on the Sellit! Online tab. You can click the Sellit! POS tab to view messages that go out from your point of sale, and the BookIt! tab has the messages the system uses for the appointment scheduling system.
2. Message Name — The message names on each tab are alphabetized for you and are common message topics for the area with which you are likely familiar.
3. Edit — Click the Edit icon to open the message template where you can view and adjust the message as described in the Editing Messages section below.

Editing Messages

Once you click to Edit a message, the Edit Message window will open and you'll have several options on how to adjust it. All of our message templates have pre-written content in all areas. Our messages are pretty good, but we recommend you make them your own by personalizing them. We will use the Abandoned Cart message from the Sellit! Online tab as an example, but you can adjust all of the areas described below for each of the listed messages. Here is how this page works:

1. Channel — Select which delivery channel(s) the system will use to send the template. Channels include Email, SMS, or both, as pictured in the multi-select drop-list below.
   
2. Email Subject — You can adjust the Subject line for this notification's email in this field, if you like. It supports merge variables called Liquid Shortcodes (e.g., , see #6 below) that the system automatically fills in with the appropriate information before sending the message. The Subject is important because your customers won't click to open the email unless this part is compelling, so edit your Subject to add personality. For example, we could adjust the Subject above, {Customer}, Your cart is still waiting! to something like {Customer}, Your stuff misses you!
3. Email HTML Content — Enter the formatted body of the email in this rich-text editor, which supports bold/italic text, links, images, tables, and Liquid Shortcodes (e.g., ). This email format is your chance to shine, so make it look good!
4. Email Plain-text Content — Enter a plain-text version of the same email in this field, used as a fallback for older email clients that can't render HTML. No bells and whistles, but the message you craft here will connect best if you add personal touches.
5. SMS Content — Enter the text-message version of this notification in this field, used when SMS is included as a selected channel. Short and sweet is best for this channel.
6. View Liquid Shortcodes — Click this button to view the list of available merge variables called Liquid Shortcodes in the eTailPet system. You can use these in all areas of your templates. Below in the image of the Liquid Shortcodes window, you can see the different tabs available (tabs include Customer Fields, Order Fields, Auto-Order Fields, and Cart Fields) and for each field, you can click the Copy button and you'll then be able to paste that field into the area of your message you need. A comprehensive list of available fields is provided below for your reference.
   
7. Send Test Email — Click this button to send yourself a test copy of the current template so you can preview how it will look before saving. When you click the Send Test Email button, a window will open that will allow you to enter the Recipient Email address to which you want the system to send the message. Click the Send button to send the test message.
   
8. Save — Click the Save button once you have finished your changes.

Message Templates

Here are the message templates for each area of the system:

Liquid Shortcodes

Related Topics

Ship to Me

Store Pickup

Local Delivery

In-Store Orders

Customers Overview

Booking Schedule

Booking Appointments

Waiver of Liability

Subscriptions

Auto-Orders

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I send a template through both email and SMS at the same time?

A: Yes, select both Email and SMS in the Channel field, and be sure to fill in both the Email content fields and the SMS Content field.

Q: What are the merge variables like used in the templates?

A: These are Liquid Shortcodes that get automatically replaced with real customer or order data when the message is sent. Click View Liquid Shortcodes on any template's edit screen to see the full list available for that template.

Q: Why is there an Email Plain-text Content field if I already filled in the Email HTML Content?

A: Some older email clients can't render HTML emails properly, so the plain-text version is used as a fallback to make sure the message is still readable.

Q: How can I check what a template will actually look like before it goes out to customers?

A: Click Send Test Email on the template's edit screen to send yourself a live preview using the current content.

Q: Why are there three separate tabs (Sellit! Online, Sellit! POS, Bookit!)?

A: Each tab groups templates by the part of the system that triggers them — Sellit! Online covers storefront/e-commerce events, Sellit! POS covers point-of-sale subscription and purchase-order events, and Bookit! covers appointment booking events.

Q: I have a question, but I can't find my answer here. How do I get more assistance?

A: You can ask any question at the number listed here. Contact our support team at (323) 370-0738 for the U.S. and (888) 370-2363 for Canada.