Templates with AI Personalization
Who This Guide Is For
If you're migrating from HeyReach, Lemlist, Instantly, Apollo, or manual outreach and you have templates that work, you don't need to throw them away. Valley lets you keep your template structure while adding AI personalization. This guide shows you how.
What Are Templates with AI Personalization?
A template is a message framework with fixed text and variable placeholders. Valley's AI fills in the variable parts with unique, researched details about each prospect.
Example template: [PROSPECT_NAME], I saw your post on {THEIR_TOPIC}. We help [THEIR_COMPANY_TYPE] companies {YOUR_VALUE_PROP}. Worth a quick chat?
Example generated message: Sarah, I saw your post on scaling remote teams. We help B2B SaaS companies hit 15+ qualified meetings per month without hiring SDRs. Worth a quick chat?
How to Set Up Templates
Step 1: Create or Edit a Writing Style
In Studio, go to Writing Styles. Create a new style or duplicate an existing one.
Step 2: Add Template Instructions in the Sequence Section
Below the DOs/DON'Ts, you'll see the LinkedIn Sequence section. This is where you paste your template structure.
Paste your template exactly as you want it. Use brackets [LIKE THIS] for fixed parts that stay the same in every message, and braces {LIKE THIS} for parts Valley should personalize with AI research.
Example: [PROSPECT_NAME], {PERSONALIZED_OBSERVATION_ABOUT_THEIR_RECENT_ACTIVITY}. We help [YOUR_INDUSTRY] teams {SPECIFIC_VALUE_PROP_TIED_TO_THEIR_SITUATION}. {SOFT_CTA}.
Step 3: Add the Safety Instruction
Add this line to your template instructions:
"VALLEY YOU MUST NEVER GENERATE A MESSAGE WITH AN EMPTY VARIABLE. If you cannot find unique, specific data for a variable, use a generic but relevant statement instead."
This prevents Valley from sending messages where a variable wasn't filled in.
Always include the empty variable safety instruction. Without it, you risk sending messages like "Sarah, I saw your post on {THEIR_RECENT_ACTIVITY}" with the placeholder visible.
Step 4: Complete the Advanced Questions
Below the sequence section, you'll find advanced questions - roughly 9 questions that help Valley deeply learn your style, tone, and approach. Don't skip these. They significantly improve message quality by giving Valley context about how you communicate, what angles you prefer, and what your outreach philosophy is.
Step 5: Save and Apply
Click SAVE on your Writing Style. When creating a campaign, select this Writing Style and Valley will use your template structure with AI personalization for every message.
Migration Example: HeyReach to Valley
Your Old HeyReach Template
"[First Name], I found your profile and love that you're focused on [Company field]. We work with [Industry] teams to [Your CTA]. I think there could be a fit - open to a 15 min call?"
Valley Template with AI Variables
"[PROSPECT_NAME], {PERSONALIZED_OBSERVATION}. We work with [YOUR_INDUSTRY] teams to {YOUR_VALUE_PROP}. {CONTEXT_OR_REASON_FOR_REACHING_OUT}. Open to a 15 min call?"
What Valley Generates
"Sarah, I saw you've been posting about sales operations and your company just launched a new go-to-market motion. We work with B2B SaaS teams to hit 15+ qualified meetings per month without hiring SDRs. Based on your focus on revenue ops automation, I think there could be a fit. Open to a 15 min call?"
Variable Naming Tips
Use descriptive names so Valley's AI understands what to fill in:
{THEIR_RECENT_ACTIVITY} - Recent post, comment, or achievement
{COMPANY_SIGNAL} - Hiring, funding, product launch, etc.
{CONTEXT_OR_REASON} - Why you're reaching out now
{PERSONALIZED_VALUE_PROP} - Value prop tailored to their role/situation
{INDUSTRY_INSIGHT} - Relevant trend or challenge in their space
{PERSONALIZED_OBSERVATION} - Something specific about them or their work
The more descriptive the variable name, the better Valley fills it in. {DATA1} gives worse results than {THEIR_RECENT_LINKEDIN_POST_TOPIC}.
Tips
Mix fixed and variable. Keep your core pitch fixed [IN BRACKETS]. Let Valley personalize the context {IN BRACES}. Aim for roughly 50/50.
Test template vs. auto. Run one campaign with your template and one with Valley's fully auto-generated approach. Compare reply rates. Most teams find auto-generated works better, but your template might be a winner if it's battle-tested.
Gradual migration. Start with 1 template. Get it working. Then migrate a second one. Don't try to move all 10 at once.
Don't skip the advanced questions. The 9 advanced questions in Writing Style setup are how Valley really learns your voice. Filling these out dramatically improves output quality.
Common Mistakes
Too much fixed text. If 80% of the message is [FIXED], Valley can't personalize meaningfully. Leave room for AI research to shine.
Empty variables in sent messages. Always include the safety instruction preventing empty variables.
Vague variable names. {DATA1} or {THING} gives Valley nothing to work with. Use {THEIR_RECENT_ACHIEVEMENT} instead.
Skipping the advanced questions. These 9 questions are the most underused feature in Writing Style setup. They teach Valley your communication style far better than DOs/DON'Ts alone.