Working with Templates

Why use templates

Templates are a quick, easy, and convenient way to set targeting parameters when building a target list. Longbow has five pre-built templates, one for each of the five most common types of campaigns (see 5 Starter Tasks), and you can easily create more. If you start the process of building a new target list by selecting a template, most of the settings are entered for you; you can just click Predict to see what the campaign will deliver. If you regularly re-run a particular type of campaign, you can create your own template so you won’t have to re-enter settings each time. Templates are also a good learning tool, because the pre-built settings illustrate how to accomplish some typical tasks.

How to use an existing template

From the Targets – List builder screen, where you build new target lists, click the drop-down list of templates on the top-left. Select the template of your choice. All of the necessary sliders and radio buttons are immediately set to accomplish the chosen task. No products are chosen in the pre-built templates, but if you have products selected when you save a template, those products become part of the template. Click Predict to see what the pre-built campaign will yield, and make any desired changes.

Creating a new template

First type a descriptive name in the Target List Name box on the upper left. Next, set the necessary metrics and sliders. Finally, click on the Save as template button at the bottom of the page to save your new template.

Modifying templates

First enter a new name for the modified template in the Target List Name box on the upper Left. Even if you like the existing name, change it a bit by adding, for example, “V2” (for Version 2) or perhaps by appending the creation date to the template name. If you just save without changing the name (suppose the original name is “1x buyers”), the current settings will be saved under “Copy of 1x buyers”. Next, adjust any parameters or sliders, or pick different products as desired. Finally, click on the Save as template button at the bottom of the page to save your modified template.

Naming templates

When a template is saved, it is given the name in the Target List Name box. Check the words in the Target List Name box to make sure you have the name you want. Use short and descriptive names. When using the same template for similar campaigns used at different times, we suggest appending a date to the name to differentiate the campaigns in the Target List Summary.

Saving and deleting templates

Clicking the Save as template button saves the existing settings under the name in the Target List Name box. To delete a template, first click on the folder icon next to the drop-down list of template names.  This takes you to the Template manager.  From there, select a template by clicking the checkbox next to its name, and then click the Delete button.

Re-creating accidentally deleted pre-built templates

If you delete one of the pre-built templates, you can easily re-create it by using the settings described in the 5 Starter Tasks help file.