Core Docs - Engagement - Communication Templates

Rock Version: v19.0
Last Modified: 2026-09-28 8:34 AM

Communication Templates make it easy to send polished, on-brand messages every time. They help your team stay consistent and efficient—so you can focus on what really matters. Instead of rewriting the same message for the hundredth time, just use a template and give your fingers a break.

As you build your template collection, finding the right one can get tricky. That’s where categories come in. By filtering templates by Category, you can zero in on exactly what you need.

To begin, go to Admin Tools > Settings > Communication Templates, then press the ti ti-circle-plus button to create a new template.

Once you click Save, your template is ready for use.

Place the Unsubscribe Link

Every bulk email needs a clear way for people to opt out. It keeps your sender reputation healthy and your organization in line with email provider and legal requirements. Rock handles this for you: if a bulk email doesn't already include the unsubscribe link, Rock adds it to the very end of the message.

To put the link somewhere specific, like your template's footer, add this merge field where you want it to appear:

{{ UnsubscribeOption }}

Rock replaces the merge field with the Unsubscribe HTML set at Admin Tools > Settings > Communication Mediums > Email. Out of the box, that's a simple Unsubscribe link to your Unsubscribe page. The link only appears on bulk communications. On any other email, Rock removes the merge field and nothing shows.

To change how the link looks, edit Unsubscribe HTML rather than building your own link in the template. Rock checks each bulk email for that exact content, so a hand-built link would leave people with two unsubscribe links. The default setting builds its link with this Lava, which you can reuse when you customize it:

{{ 'Global' | Attribute:'PublicApplicationRoot' }}Unsubscribe/{{ Person | PersonActionIdentifier:'Unsubscribe' }}?CommunicationId={{ Communication.Id }}

Keeping Your Footer in a Global Attribute
If your template pulls its footer from a Global Attribute, use [[ UnsubscribeOption ]] (double square brackets) inside the attribute instead. The attribute's Lava runs before the merge field is available, so Rock fills in the square-bracket version afterward.

Add a View in Browser Link

Some email apps strip styling or clip long messages. A view in browser link gives each person a full-page copy of the email they received, with their personalization intact. Add this Lava as the link's URL in your template:

{% raw %}{{ 'Global' | Attribute:'PublicApplicationRoot' }}GetCommunication.ashx?c={{ Communication.Guid }}&p={{ Person | PersonActionIdentifier:'Unsubscribe' }}{% endraw %}

When the email sends, Rock fills in the communication and the recipient, so the link opens that person's own copy. If the link is opened without the person portion, only someone with Edit access to the communication can view it.

Why the Raw Tags Matter
Rock processes a template's Lava while the email is being written, before it knows the recipient or the communication. Wrapping the link in {% raw %} and {% endraw %} holds the Lava until the email sends. The Email Builder shows the same reminder when you add Lava to a link or text block. Use this approach for any Lava that should change per recipient.

Organizing and Securing Templates

Categories help you group templates by theme—like General, Children's Ministry or Finance—so it’s easier to find what you need.

If certain templates are especially important, you can restrict access using security settings. From the Communication Template List page, click the ti ti-lock icon to choose who can View, Edit or Administrate each template.

Keep in mind: you'll only see templates you have Edit permission for on your My Settings page.

Using the Communication Template Preview Image
When selecting a template from the Communication Wizard or My Settings, a preview image helps you quickly recognize the template’s purpose. If you're using the Email Builder, Rock will automatically generate a screenshot—no need to upload one manually.