How To Create A Template On Docusign

Looking to streamline your document signing process with DocuSign? Creating templates can save you time and effort when sending out frequently used documents for signature.

In this article, we will guide you through the step-by-step process of creating a template on DocuSign. From logging into your account to designing your template and testing it out, we’ve got you covered.

We will also provide tips for designing effective templates and best practices for using them. Let’s get started!

What is DocuSign?

DocuSign is a widely-used electronic signature solution that enables individuals and businesses to securely sign, send, and manage documents digitally.

1. With DocuSign, users can streamline workflows by electronically signing contracts, agreements, and forms from anywhere at any time, eliminating the need for printing, scanning, and mailing physical documents.
2. Its user-friendly interface allows for easy customization of signature fields, date fields, and more, ensuring a seamless signing experience.

DocuSign offers enhanced security measures such as encryption, audit trails, and authentication features to safeguard sensitive information. The platform also integrates with various popular software applications, enhancing its versatility and applicability in diverse industries.

Why Use Templates on DocuSign?

Utilizing templates on DocuSign streamlines the document creation and signing process, saving time and ensuring consistency in document formatting and content.

By using templates, individuals and organizations can access pre-designed formats that include essential information fields, eliminating the need to recreate documents from scratch. This not only speeds up the entire workflow but also reduces the chances of errors or missing critical details.

Template utilization in DocuSign enhances professionalism, as documents are presented in a standardized and polished manner, reflecting a higher level of quality and care in communication. Whether it’s contracts, proposals, or agreements, having standardized templates ensures that every document upholds the desired branding and meets compliance standards.

How to Create a Template on DocuSign?

Creating a template on DocuSign involves several steps that enable users to design custom document formats for efficient electronic signature workflows.

To begin, log in to your DocuSign account and navigate to the Templates section. Click on the ‘Create Template‘ button to initiate the process. The next step is to select the document you want to use as the basis for your template. Ensure that the document is formatted correctly and includes all necessary fields for recipient information and signatures. Once the document is uploaded, you can start adding fields such as signature boxes, date fields, and text boxes. Take advantage of DocuSign’s drag-and-drop functionality to easily position and resize these fields for a polished and professional appearance.

Step 1: Log into Your DocuSign Account

To begin the template creation process on DocuSign, log in to your account using your credentials to access the template management dashboard.

Once you enter your username and password on the login page, DocuSign employs robust security measures to ensure the protection of your account. To further strengthen security, the platform offers multi-factor authentication, requiring an additional verification step beyond just your password. This extra layer of security may include sending a code to your registered email or mobile phone for verification. By implementing these stringent user authentication protocols, DocuSign prioritizes the safeguarding of your sensitive information and documents.

Step 2: Navigate to the Templates Tab

Once logged in, locate and click on the ‘Templates‘ tab in the DocuSign interface to access the template management section.

In the DocuSign interface, the ‘Templates‘ tab is typically positioned in the top menu bar alongside other tabs like ‘Home,’ ‘Inbox,’ and ‘Manage‘.

When you click on the ‘Templates‘ tab, the dashboard will display a list of all available templates. From here, you can easily view, edit, create, or delete templates as needed.

The interface layout is designed to streamline the template management process, making it convenient for users to navigate efficiently within the system.

Step 3: Click on the ‘Create Template’ Button

1. After accessing the Templates section, click on the ‘Create Template‘ button to initiate the template design process.

2. Once you click on the ‘Create Template‘ button, you will be directed to the design interface, where you can unleash your creativity. The design interface offers a range of customization options, allowing you to choose colors, fonts, layouts, and add images or logos to personalize your template.

3. You can experiment with different design elements to create a template that suits your specific needs. After customizing the template to your liking, proceed with the setup functions to ensure that it aligns perfectly with your requirements before finalizing it.

Step 4: Choose a Template Type

Select the appropriate template type from the available options, such as document template, form template, or signature template, based on your document requirements.

Document templates provide a structure for creating various types of documents, ensuring consistency and professionalism in their layout. Form templates are ideal for collecting specific information in a structured format, making them suitable for surveys, feedback forms, and registration forms.

On the other hand, signature templates streamline the signing process, allowing for digital signatures to be added to documents with ease. When choosing the right template type, consider the nature of your document and how you intend to use it, ensuring that the chosen template aligns with your purpose and desired outcome.

Step 5: Design Your Template

Design your template by customizing the layout, adding branding elements, and structuring document fields for user input and signature placement.

1. During the template design phase, you have the flexibility to tailor the layout to suit your specific needs. This can involve selecting from various formatting options such as font styles, sizes, and color schemes to ensure a professional look.
2. Incorporating branding elements like logos, colors, and slogans is essential for maintaining brand consistency across all your documents. Field arrangement plays a crucial role in guiding users through the form, making it intuitive and easy to navigate. By strategically placing fields for input and signature, you create a user-friendly experience that enhances efficiency and professionalism.

Step 6: Add Recipients and Custom Fields

Specify the recipients of the document and add custom fields for personalized information capture, such as names, dates, and additional details required for completion.

1. Recipient management involves assigning specific roles to individuals who will receive the document, allowing for tailored access and permissions within the system.

2. Custom field addition enables the inclusion of diverse field types like text boxes, dropdown menus, checkboxes, and date pickers.

3. Input validation options can be set to ensure that the data entered by recipients meets specified criteria, improving accuracy and consistency in the personalized information provided for template customization.

Step 7: Save and Name Your Template

Save your template configuration and assign a descriptive name for easy identification and future use within your DocuSign template library.

By clearly labeling your templates, you can enhance the efficiency of your workflow and streamline the document management process. When naming your templates, consider using specific keywords or tags related to the content, such as contract type, client name, or project reference. This will facilitate quick searching and retrieval when you need to access a particular template. Creating a systematic folder structure within your template library can further improve organization and accessibility, enabling you to categorize templates based on their purpose or department.

Step 8: Test Your Template

Before finalizing your template, conduct a thorough testing process to ensure functionality, layout accuracy, and recipient interactions align with your intended document workflow.

Testing templates is crucial as it helps in verifying that all text fields, checkboxes, and signature areas are working correctly. Validation during the testing phase is essential to check for potential errors and ensure that the template complies with industry standards.

Testing different scenarios, such as varying data inputs and recipient actions, provides insight into the template’s adaptability. Resolving any issues discovered during testing ensures a seamless experience for signers and improves overall document security and efficiency.

Tips for Designing Effective Templates on DocuSign

Creating effective templates on DocuSign requires attention to detail and adherence to design best practices to enhance user experience and streamline document workflows.

1. One practical tip for designing templates is to prioritize simplicity. By keeping the layout clean and straightforward, users can easily navigate and understand the document.
2. Another important aspect is personalization, tailoring the template to the specific needs of your recipients can increase engagement and efficiency.
3. Providing clear instructions within the template can help users fill out information correctly and minimize errors.
4. Don’t forget to test your template before finalizing it to ensure it functions as intended and optimize its effectiveness.

Keep it Simple and Easy to Use

Simplicity in template design is key to ensuring user-friendly interactions and easy navigation for both creators and recipients of the documents.

By focusing on a clean and intuitive layout, templates can streamline the document processing and signing processes, ultimately leading to higher efficiency and productivity. A well-designed template eliminates confusion and reduces the chances of errors, making it easier for users to input information accurately and for recipients to understand the content clearly.

Clarity in template design enhances the overall user experience, fostering trust and professionalism in the document exchange. When templates are thoughtfully crafted with simplicity in mind, they become powerful tools that facilitate smooth communication and decision-making.

Use Custom Fields to Personalize the Template

Incorporate custom fields into your templates to tailor document content, gather specific information, and personalize the signing experience for recipients.

Custom fields provide a versatile tool for enhancing template personalization. By utilizing custom fields, you can dynamically insert recipient names, company details, or other relevant data into your documents, creating a more engaging and personalized experience. This level of customization not only improves the overall appearance of the document but also increases recipient engagement.

Through strategic data collection strategies, such as using form fields or dropdown menus, you can gather valuable information seamlessly during the signing process. This targeted approach leads to higher response rates and a more tailored experience for your recipients.

Include Clear Instructions for Recipients

Provide concise and easy-to-follow instructions within your templates to guide recipients on the signing process, document completion, and any required actions.

1. Clearly outlined instructions play a crucial role in ensuring smooth recipient interactions and document comprehension.
2. Best practices recommend using bullet points or numbered lists to break down complex tasks, along with specific formatting tips such as bolding important details or using color codes to draw attention.

Including communication guidelines on tone and language fosters clarity and professionalism in your documents, enhancing readability and minimizing misunderstandings.

By implementing these strategies, you can streamline the recipient experience and facilitate efficient processing of information.

Test Your Template Before Using it

Prior to deploying your template for document signing, conduct comprehensive testing to identify and address any design, functionality, or workflow issues proactively.

1. This testing process involves running various test scenarios to simulate different user interactions with the template.
2. These scenarios can range from simple actions like filling in fields and applying signatures to more complex workflows involving multiple users and conditional logic.

By testing these scenarios thoroughly, you can ensure that the template functions correctly in all possible situations. Error handling mechanisms should be implemented to gracefully manage any unexpected issues that may arise during document processing. Regular revision practices should also be followed to refine and optimize the template for efficient and error-free processing.

Best Practices for Using Templates on DocuSign

Optimizing the use of templates on DocuSign involves adhering to best practices that enhance efficiency, consistency, and collaboration in document handling and signature workflows.

1. One crucial aspect of template utilization is ensuring document standardization, which involves creating templates with predefined elements and formats to maintain consistency across all documents.
2. Version control is also essential to track changes and ensure that the most up-to-date template is being used.
3. Team sharing is important for seamless collaboration, allowing multiple team members to access and work on templates simultaneously.
4. Integration with other DocuSign features, such as automated reminders and notifications, can further enhance workflow management and streamline the signature process.

Use Templates for Commonly Used Documents

Leverage templates for frequently used documents such as contracts, agreements, and forms to streamline the document creation process and ensure consistency in formatting and content.

By utilizing templates, individuals can significantly reduce the time spent on drafting these repetitive documents, as all the standard sections and clauses are pre-defined, saving them from having to start from scratch each time. This not only boosts efficiency but also minimizes the chances of errors or omissions, as the templates serve as a reliable guide throughout the document creation process.

Template-driven workflows promote document uniformity across different projects or departments, presenting a professional and cohesive image to clients and stakeholders.

Keep Templates Up to Date

Regularly update and maintain your templates to reflect any changes in document requirements, legal standards, or branding elements to ensure accuracy and relevance in document processing.

Template maintenance plays a crucial role in ensuring that your organization’s documents are up-to-date and aligned with the latest industry standards. By adhering to versioning practices, you can track changes made to templates over time, allowing for transparency and accountability in the editing process.

Implementing update notifications ensures that users are promptly informed of any modifications or additions to templates, promoting efficient collaboration and preventing errors.

Utilizing revision controls enables you to manage and monitor template alterations, preserving a clear audit trail of document revisions to uphold compliance with evolving business needs.

Share Templates with Your Team

Facilitate collaboration and efficiency within your team by sharing templates across users, departments, or projects to streamline document workflows and foster consistency in document handling.

Template sharing allows team members to access pre-designed formats and structures, reducing time spent on creating documents from scratch. Access controls ensure that only authorized individuals can make edits or view sensitive information, maintaining data security and confidentiality. Permissions management enables assigning specific roles to users, assigning responsibilities effectively and preventing unauthorized changes. Collaborative features further enhance teamwork by enabling real-time editing, feedback collection, and version tracking, leading to improved communication and productivity within the team.

Use Templates in Conjunction with Other DocuSign Features

Integrate template usage with other DocuSign features such as bulk sending, automated reminders, and workflow triggers to optimize document processing, streamline approvals, and enhance user productivity.

By combining templates with functionalities like bulk sending, reminders, and workflow triggers within DocuSign, users can unlock a myriad of benefits. The synergies between template utilization and these additional features pave the way for improved workflow efficiency, reduced manual tasks, and a more streamlined approval process. Automation benefits are magnified as repetitive tasks are minimized, allowing users to focus on more value-added activities. The integration possibilities offered by DocuSign create a comprehensive document management solution that caters to diverse organizational needs and enhances collaboration across teams.