Help Center

Templates

Getting Started

Creating Your First Template in Marq

Transform any design into a reusable template that maintains brand consistency across your team.

Templates are the foundation of consistent branding in Marq, enabling your team to create on-brand materials quickly while maintaining quality and compliance. This guide walks you through creating your first template and setting up smart fields for dynamic customization.

What You'll Learn

✅ How to convert any document into a reusable template
✅ Setting up smart fields for dynamic customization
✅ Template types and when to use each
✅ Best practices for template setup

Creating Your First Template

Step 1: Prepare Your Document

Before converting to a template, ensure your document is finalized and ready to be used as a master template.

Quick checklist:

All design elements are properly positioned
Colors match your brand guidelines
Text styles are consistent
Images are high-quality and properly placed

Step 2: Convert Document to Template

Open your completed document in the Marq editor
Click "More Options" in the top toolbar (three dots icon)
Select "Convert to Template" from the dropdown menu
Choose your template type:
- Brand Template: Share with your entire team
- Personal Template: Keep for individual use only
Add descriptive tags for easy discovery (e.g., "social media", "print", "event")
Set sharing permissions based on who should access this template
Click "Create Template" to save

💡 Pro Tip: Use clear, descriptive names like "Social Media Post - Product Launch" instead of generic names like "Template 1"

Setting Up Smart Fields

Smart fields make your templates dynamic by allowing users to customize specific elements without breaking the design.

Creating Smart Fields

Select the element you want to make editable (text, image, or date)
Go to Insert > Smart Fields in the top menu
Choose the appropriate field type:
- Text Field: For headlines, body copy, names
- Image Field: For photos, logos, graphics
- Date Field: For event dates, deadlines
- Number Field: For prices, quantities, statistics
Name your field clearly (users will see this name)
- ✅ Good: "Event Date", "Product Image", "Headline Text"
- ❌ Avoid: "Field 1", "Text", "Image"
Set default values to guide users (optional but recommended)
Add help text to explain what should go in each field

Smart Field Best Practices

For Text Fields:

Provide sample text that shows the intended tone and length
Set character limits for design consistency
Use placeholder text that guides users

For Image Fields:

Specify recommended dimensions (e.g., "Best at 1200x800px")
Lock aspect ratios to maintain design integrity
Provide guidance on image style (photos vs. graphics)

For Date Fields:

Set appropriate date formats for your region
Consider if you need date ranges vs. single dates

Template Types Explained

Brand Templates

Best for: Templates shared across your entire team or organization Features: Full sharing controls, appear in team template library, can be managed by admins Use cases: Company letterheads, social media templates, presentation templates

Personal Templates

Best for: Individual use or testing template concepts Features: Only visible to you, perfect for experimentation Use cases: Personal project templates, template drafts before sharing

Template Naming Best Practices

Follow a consistent naming structure: [Category] - [Format] - [Purpose] - [Version]

Examples:

"Marketing - Instagram Post - Product Launch - v2"
"Sales - One-Pager - Feature Overview - Current"
"Events - Invitation - Webinar - Template"

Quick Start Checklist

Before Creating a Template:

Document design is finalized
All brand assets are uploaded
Text styles are consistent
Images are optimized for web

When Setting Up Smart Fields:

Fields have descriptive names
Default values are provided
Help text explains expectations
Field types match content types

After Creating Your Template:

Test template with sample content
Share with a small test group first
Gather feedback before wide rollout
Document any special instructions for users

Common Issues When Creating Templates

Smart Fields Not Working

Possible Causes:

Field type doesn't match content type
Locked elements blocking field access

Solutions:

Verify field type matches content (text field for text, image field for images)
Check if elements are accidentally locked
Test in a different browser (Chrome recommended)

Template Conversion Fails