Using Templates to Send Documents
Learn how to quickly create and send documents for signature using your saved templates.
Once you have created and saved templates in DocuSigner, using them to send documents for signature is a fast and efficient process. This is where the true power of templates shines.
1. Selecting a Template
To start a new document workflow using a template:
- Navigate to your "Templates" section in DocuSigner.
- Browse or search for the template you wish to use.
- Click on the template or an option like "Use Template" or "Create Document from Template."
2. Assigning Participants to Roles
The template already has predefined signer roles (e.g., "Client," "Employee"). Now, you need to assign actual people (participants) to these roles for this specific document instance:
- For each role defined in the template, you'll be prompted to enter the name and email address of the person who will fulfill that role.
- You can often select existing contacts or add new ones on the fly.
- If a role has an email placeholder set in the template, it might pre-fill, but you can usually override it.
3. Reviewing and Customizing (Optional)
After assigning participants, you may have an opportunity to:
- Preview the Document: See how the document will look with the pre-placed fields.
- Minor Edits (If Allowed): Some systems might allow minor adjustments to fields or text for this specific instance, without altering the original template. This is less common for strict template usage.
- Set a Custom Message or Deadline: You can often add a personalized message to the email notification for the signers and set a specific deadline for signing this instance of the document.
4. Sending for Signature
Once you've assigned participants and made any necessary instance-specific adjustments, click "Send for Signature" (or a similar button).
- DocuSigner will generate a unique document instance based on the template and your participant assignments.
- Notifications will be sent to the participants according to the signing order (if defined) and their roles.
- The document will appear in your dashboard with a status like "Pending" or "Out for Signature."
Benefits of Using Templates
- Speed: Dramatically reduces the time to prepare and send routine documents.
- Consistency: Ensures all documents of a certain type use the same approved fields and layout.
- Accuracy: Minimizes errors by pre-setting field information and assignments.
- Professionalism: Maintains a consistent brand image and document quality.
Important Considerations:
- Ensure your templates are kept up-to-date. If your standard legal language changes, update the master template.
- Clearly name your templates for easy identification.
- Train your team on which templates to use for specific scenarios to maintain consistency.
Using templates in DocuSigner is a key strategy for optimizing your document workflows and boosting overall productivity.