> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.alcmeon.ai/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Message templates: approved starting point for every send > How templates work as the entry point of every campaign and automation in Simio, and where to find the channel-specific rules that govern them. A **template** is a pre-approved message format that Simio can send to a contact at any time, including outside an active conversation. Every campaign and every automation in Simio starts from an approved template as its first step in the flow editor, because most messaging channels require the first message to a contact to follow an approved format. The exact template rules (categories, structure, buttons, media limits, approval lifecycle) are set by the channel provider, not by Simio. This page covers the shared workflow. Channel-specific specs live under [Channels](/simio/channels/overview). ## How templates fit into a flow * The **first step** of every campaign and automation is locked as a template step. It cannot be deleted or converted into another type. * The template step maps its numbered placeholders (`{{1}}`, `{{2}}`, etc.) to contact fields at send time, with optional fallback values. * Follow-up steps in the flow can also be template steps (useful when you want to send another approved message outside the 24-hour conversation window, on channels that have one). ## Where to author templates Templates are managed per scenario. To check the list of all of your templates, you can go to **Settings → Messages → Message templates**. ## Channel-specific rules Meta approval lifecycle, Marketing/Utility/Carousel categories, structure, buttons, media, click tracking, and sync. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.