DocumentationGenStudioUser Guide

Best practices for using templates

Last update: Fri Dec 13 2024 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Templates significantly reduce the time and effort required to generate new content by providing a starting point that includes pre-configured layouts and design elements.

Use the following recommendations when using templates with GenStudio for Performance Marketing:

  1. Know about template elements
  2. Configure channel guidelines for effective personalization of content
  3. Design with accessibility standards for an optimal experience
  4. Follow channel-specific template guidelines
TIP
Learn more about basic template elements and procedures in Work with Templates. And deep-dive into customizing a template for use in your next campaign.

Know about template elements

As a best practice, familiarize yourself with the parts of a template. Each template type uses different elements to create a structure for channel-specific content creation. To customize your template, use the field names in place of these elements where you need GenStudio for Performance Marketing to generate content.

See Template elements.

Configure channel guidelines

Configure channel guidelines for each brand before using templates in GenStudio for Performance Marketing. The channel guidelines directly influence the type of content generated when using the template. For example, you can set character limits on the body of an email.

Body specifications

See channel guidelines.

Follow channel-specific template guidelines

Build templates that accommodate the layout and visual requirements for each channel. Consider the following tips and constraints when working with each template type to ensure optimal performance and compatibility:

Email

Follow these design best practices when customizing email templates to work with GenStudio for Performance Marketing:

  • Use Adobe or Google fonts
  • Use clean and responsive HTML and inline CSS
  • Do not use JavaScript
  • Do not use fixed width in body or container
  • Do not use base64 encoding for images because it can significantly increase the template size

Constraints:

  • Use of sections:

    • A basic template (one section only) can generate a single set of template elements.
    • A complex template (multiple sections) can generate up to three sets of template elements.

  • The maximum fields allowed in a template are 20

  • The maximum HTML file size is 102 KB

Recognized field names:

For email, the subject field is automatically included. Use content placeholders for the following fields:

  • pre_header
  • headline
  • body
  • cta
  • image (selected from Content)
  • brand_logo

See Content placeholders to understand more about using field names in templates.

Meta ad

Follow these design best practices when customizing Meta ad templates to work with GenStudio for Performance Marketing:

  • Use 360 pixel width for column layouts

  • Use a minimum resolution of 1080 x 1080 pixels for images

  • Do not use relative font size

  • Do not define viewports

  • Do not use JavaScript

  • Do not override an HTML element in the CSS

  • Use the following settings for background images:

    Add object-fit: cover value to background-image CSS class:

    code language-css 
    .background-image {
  width: 100%;
  height: 100%;
  object-fit: cover;
}

Constraints:

  • Use of sections:
    • Only one section can be used, generating a single set of template elements.

Supported aspect ratios:

  • Square 1:1 (1080 x 1080 pixels)
  • Vertical 4:5 (1080 x 1350 pixels)
  • Story 9:16 (1080 x 1920 pixels)

Recognized field names:

For Meta ads, the headline, body, and CTA fields are automatically generated. Use content placeholders for the following fields:

  • image (selected from Content)
  • on-image-text
  • brand_logo

See Content placeholders to understand more about using field names in templates.

Display ad

Follow these design best practices when customizing display ad templates to work with GenStudio for Performance Marketing:

  • Use Adobe or Google fonts
  • Prepare assets that display well in slim dimensions
  • Do not use embedded or encoded background images
  • Use background images (image field) uploaded to the GenStudio for Performance Marketing content repository
  • Do not use JavaScript

Constraints:

  • Use of sections:
    • Only one section can be used, generating a single set of template elements.

Supported dimensions:

  • Vertical: (pixels)

    • 300 x 600
    • 160 x 600​

  • Horizontal: (pixels)

    • 300 x 250
    • 728 x 90
    • 336 x 280
    • 320 x 50
    • 970 x 250​

  • Custom: (pixels)

    • 50 x 50 to 2000 x 2000

Recognized field names:

Use content placeholders for the following fields:

  • headline
  • body
  • cta
  • image (selected from Content)

See Content placeholders to understand more about using field names in templates.

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