Guide: Customising Phishing Templates

Managers can customise existing email templates or build new ones from scratch. The email editor tool provides a user-friendly experience for both tasks, enabling you to make them more convincing, add a local flavor, or even make them hilariously obvious for those first-time campaigns.

Watch our Video Tutorial:

Editing Phishing Templates:

How to Edit a Template:

Login into your Admin dashboard.
Navigate to the 'Phishing' section.
Choose the 'Templates' tab.
Navigate to the template card you wish to edit, click on the ellipsis menu ('3 dots'), and select the 'Edit' option.
You'll have the option to edit Email Template Fields, which include:

Template Title (for the template library)
Template Description (for the template library)
Email Subject Line (as it will appear in the recipient's mailbox)

Click 'Save' to open the Email Editor.
Edit 'Layout' and 'Content' Sections

Watch our video tutorial:

Creating New Phishing Templates:

How to Create a New Template:

Login into your Admin dashboard.
Navigate to the 'Phishing' section.
Choose the 'Templates' tab.
Click the 'Create Template' button, located top right corner.
Populate New Email Template Fields, which include:

Template Title (for the template library)
Template Description (for the template library)
Email Subject Line (as it will appear in the recipient's mailbox)

Select 'Create Template' to open the Email Editor.
Edit 'Layout' and 'Content' Sections

NOTE: Don't forget to 'Publish' any changes you make to templates to make them available in your library for use in your campaigns. If you decide not to keep any changes, just click the 'X' or 'Cancel' button. If you're happy with your edits, click 'Save' to apply them and keep working on the email.

Email Editor

The email editor tool provides the freedom to tailor phishing emails to fit your training goals, region, and specific scenarios. Each email template is built using sections:

Drag and Drop layout 'Sections'
Drag and Drop 'Content' within each section.

Column Layout Sections

How to Add a Column Section to a Template:

'Drag' and 'Drop' the Section type block into the email template.
Click within the section block to access editing tools in the right-hand column.

*Click on the 'Bin' icon in the top-right corner to delete a section.

Editing Content

Content options include:

Text
Button
Image
Divider
Spacer

How to Add a Text Block:

'Drag' and 'Drop' a Text block into a section within the email template.
Click within the Text block to activate editing tools.

*Click on the 'Bin' icon located in the top-right corner to delete a text block.

Placeholders

Within the text block, Managers can customise templates by inserting placeholders. These enhance the persuasiveness of phishing emails while maintaining a personalised touch.

How to Insert a Placeholder:

Click 'Placeholders'
Use the dropdown menu to select pre-designed placeholders.

Links

Before saving a phishing email template, ensure it includes a 'Hook URL.' This URL, generated by the system, mimics a malicious link. When learners click on the link, they will automatically be redirected to a remedial training landing page for just-in-time training.

How to Insert a Hook URL:

Select the text for the URL as you want it to appear in the email.
Highlight the text.
From the 'Links' dropdown menu.
Select 'Hook URL'.

NOTE: The phishing simulator does not allow Managers to insert custom URLs. The system's pre-programmed hook URL is used to securely and reliably track learner clicks.

Button

Buttons serve as effective tools to attract attention and encourage learners to click on them. Well-designed buttons can enhance the credibility of a phishing email, making it appear more authentic and trustworthy.

How to Insert a Button:

'Drag' and 'Drop' a Button block into the email template.
Click within the Button block to access editing tools.

*Click on the 'Bin' icon in the top-right corner to delete a button.

Image

How to Add an Image:

'Drag' and 'Drop' an Image block into a Section within the email template.
Click on the 'Select Image' to upload your image.
Click within the Image block to access editing tools.

*Click on the 'Bin' icon in the top-right corner to delete an image.

Edit Status

Customised email templates will display three different status icons.

Draft: A new email template being worked on.
Modified: An existing template that has been customised.
Published: This is a completed customised email template ready for use.

How to Publish a Template:

Navigate to the ellipsis menu ("3 dots") to the right of the template
Click 'Publish'.

How to Delete a Template:

Navigate to the ellipsis menu ("3 dots") to the right of the template
Click 'Delete'.

How to Preview a Template:

Navigate to the ellipsis menu ("3 dots") to the right of the template
Click 'Preview'.

NOTE: A draft or modified template will not appear in your template library until it is 'Published'. Your changes are saved each time you click 'Save', and if you delete a modified email, it goes back to the original version. For MSP Account Managers, published templates update and appear in the template library of all customers.