Want to write the message yourself? Choose Custom message. Want AI to draft it for each lead? Choose AI-guided. The steps below show both options.
Choose Custom message when you want to write the message yourself. Choose AI-guided when you want a different draft for each lead based on your instructions and available context.
Customize formatting controls the greeting, sign-off and line breaks of new AI drafts. It does not choose the language or rewrite the message body.
Write your own sequence message
Open the agent’s Sequence and choose Open workflow builder.
Select a message and choose Edit message in Step details, or double-click the message card. On smaller screens, open Step details after selecting the card.
In the Message tab, choose Custom message.
Write the complete message, including the greeting, sign-off and line breaks. Click a variable chip to insert it at the cursor, or drag a chip into the text.
Choose Apply changes, then Save in the workflow toolbar. Repeat for each step you want to change.
Write your message, then choose Apply changes. Sample data shown.
Use {{firstName}}, {{lastName}}, {{company}}, {{title}} or {{industry}}. Keep the spelling and capital letters shown. Do not add a # before a token.
For example, write Hi {{firstName}}, for an English greeting or Olá {{firstName}}, for Portuguese. Custom message does not translate your text. Press Enter for a new line or Enter twice for a blank line.
Email and InMail subjects are edited separately in Step details. While creating an agent, choose Done instead of Save. The workflow returns to setup, and Create agent is a separate action.
Custom message uses your wording instead of an AI-written message. Prospect details fill the variables. A message you already approved or edited for one lead may keep that wording after you change the sequence. Pause an active agent and review its leads and approvals before major changes.
Reuse a saved message
In the sequence message editor, select Use template, choose a saved message and review its preview, then select Use this template. You will only see templates that match the channel and message type.
Review the copied wording or guidance, subject and formatting. Select Apply changes, then save the workflow. To keep the current message or guidance for another sequence, select Save template.
In Inbox, open a conversation and select Saved replies. Choose a template, then select Use this template to insert its text at the cursor or replace selected text. Saved replies shows Exact message templates that match the channel and message type, including templates saved under other purposes.
Available recipient details fill the supported variables. Fill in any missing variables and review the draft before selecting Send. Choosing a template does not send it. Use Save reply as a template beside Saved replies to save your current reply.
Manage the library in Settings > Message templates. Each use is a separate copy.
Edit a message for one lead
Open a lead from Leads and select Sequence. You can also choose Overview > After they connect > Preview message. In a lead drawer, open Outreach > Next message.
Select Edit message. Write the complete message for that person, or use Generate preview first if you want an AI starting point.
Select Save changes. The saved wording applies only to this lead’s first LinkedIn follow-up after connection acceptance. It does not change other leads or the sequence template.
Saving does not send or approve the message. The agent’s approval mode, sending hours, account limits and outreach holds still apply. Editing the current step clears any approval of its old wording, so review is required again when the approval mode calls for it.
Editing is unavailable when there is no supported follow-up, the lead has passed that step or stopped outreach, outreach is disabled or on hold, or a send is underway or awaiting delivery confirmation. If the lead or workflow changes before saving, refresh the preview and review the wording again.
Guide AI drafts in your chosen language
Open the agent’s Settings > General.
In Tone, add a clear language instruction. For example, “Write outreach messages in Brazilian Portuguese using natural Brazilian wording.”
Review Sales playbook > Customize > Tone examples so the examples match that language. Save the settings.
If a step needs its own instruction, open Edit message > Message > AI-guided and add it to Guidance for the AI. Choose Apply changes, then save the workflow.
Keep the agent’s instructions, step guidance and examples consistent. These are writing instructions, not a language switch for every part of the product. Review generated drafts, especially when an instruction or example contains another language.
Format new AI drafts
Select an AI-guided message, choose Edit message and open Formatting. You can also use the Formatting button in Step details.
Enable Customize formatting.
Turn on Greeting or Sign-off and enter your text. Use
{{firstName}}for the recipient and{{senderName}}for the connected account’s name.Choose spacing for After greeting, Between body paragraphs and Before sign-off.
Choose Apply changes, then save the workflow.
Choose the greeting, sign-off and spacing for new AI drafts. Sample data shown.
Write greetings and sign-offs in the language you want. The layout preview uses sample names and placeholder body text. It is not a generated draft.
What happens to messages already prepared?
Step guidance or formatting changes shape new AI drafts. They do not rewrite stored drafts or approvals.
Changes to the agent’s Tone, offer or Sales playbook reset eligible unapproved drafts so the workflow can prepare new ones using the updated context. This does not translate text in place.
Explicitly approved messages stay unchanged. Review them separately if they need different wording or language.
Automatic replies use separate instructions
Autopilot replies after a prospect responds do not use a sequence step’s Custom message, Guidance for the AI or Customize formatting.
For reply language and style, review Settings > General > Tone and Sales playbook > Customize > Tone examples. Existing tone examples can take priority over the general Tone fallback for replies, so update both. Check reply drafts as well as sequence drafts.