# Alert templates

The **Templates** tab on the **Alerts** page holds ready-made sets of alert rules. A template adds many rules in one step, with limits that suit a type of site, a goal or a module.

## Before you start [#before-you-start]

- To open the tab, select a domain, click **Alerts** in the **Domain** group of the sidebar, then click **Templates**.
- Only workspace owners and admins see the **Templates** tab. Members see only the **Alerts** tab.
- A rule from a template can only work when its module is set up. The template shows which modules you must set up first.

## How the template catalog is organized [#how-the-template-catalog-is-organized]

The **Templates** tab shows one card for each template, in four sections:

| Section | What the templates are for |
|---|---|
| **Start here** | The one template that every site needs. |
| **By type of site** | A type of site, for example a shop, a web app or a blog. |
| **By goal** | One goal, for example speed, search traffic or a launch. |
| **By module** | The most useful rules of one module. |

The rules of each template follow the order of the sidebar.

### Examples of templates [#examples-of-templates]

- **Start here**: **Essentials – know when the site breaks**. It tells you when the site is down, when a certificate or domain expires, and when search engines cannot enter.
- **By type of site**: **Online shop – protect your sales**, **News and blog – keep readers coming**, **Agency client – only critical alerts**.
- **By goal**: **Traffic drop – find the cause early**, **Speed – keep Core Web Vitals good**, **Launch or migration week – tight limits**.
- **By module**: **Site Health – serious issues only**, **Sitemaps – keep them complete and clean**, **Renewals – early notice for certificates and domains**.

The **Essentials** template adds rules such as **Site is down**, **SSL certificate expires in 14 days**, **Search engines cannot enter the site** and **A sitemap does not load**.

## Template cards [#template-cards]

Each card shows the name of the template and one line about what it does. Under it, icons show the modules that the rules cover. Hover an icon to see the module name.

The chips on the card tell you the state of the template:

| Chip | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **N alerts** | The number of rules in the template. |
| **N new** | The number of rules that the domain does not have yet. |
| **N need a set-up** | The number of rules whose module is not set up yet. |
| **All added** | The domain has every rule of the template. |

### Templates that are already added [#templates-that-are-already-added]

When the domain has every rule of a template, the template leaves the tab. If the domain has every rule of every template, the tab shows "You've added every template."

## Template panel [#template-panel]

Click a card to open its panel. The panel shows the name of the template and the type of site or goal that it is for. It has these parts:

- **Delivery**: where the new alerts go. **In-app notification** is always on. **Email notification** is on by default. You can also select Slack channels and webhooks. See [Alert delivery](/domain/alerts/delivery).
- **N alerts**: the list of rules in the template. Each rule shows its name and one sentence about what makes it fire.
- **Who gets it**: the **Share with all members** option. See [Alerts](/domain/alerts).

### Chips on the rules in the panel [#chips-on-the-rules-in-the-panel]

| Chip | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **Added** | The domain already has this rule. VitalSentinel does not add it again. |
| **Needs set-up** or **Needs <module> set-up** | The module of this rule is not set up. VitalSentinel does not add this rule. |

If rules need a module, the panel shows a button for each module, for example **Set up Google Search Console**. Click it to set up the module, then open the template again.

## Add a template [#add-a-template]

1. Click the card of the template.
2. Under **Delivery**, select the channels for the new alerts.
3. Optional: under **Who gets it**, select **Share with all members**.
4. Click **Add N alerts**.

The email choice applies to every new rule of the template. You can change each rule later on the **Alerts** tab.

### Messages after you add a template [#messages-after-you-add-a-template]

| Message | Meaning |
|---|---|
| "Added N alerts." | VitalSentinel added the new rules. If some rules were there already, the message also says "N were there already." |
| "No alert added. Set up the missing module first." | Every new rule needs a module that is not set up. |
| "You have all these alerts already." | The domain has every rule of the template. |

If the template has no rule to add, the panel has no **Add** button. It shows "You have all these alerts already." or "Set up the missing module first. Then you can add these alerts."

## After you add a template [#after-you-add-a-template]

The new rules show on the **Alerts** tab, in the card of their module. They work like rules that you create by hand. You can change the limit, the severity or the delivery of each rule, or delete it. See [Alerts](/domain/alerts).

Some templates have tight limits for a short time. For example, the **Launch or migration week** template tells you to delete its alerts when the launch week ends.

## Troubleshooting [#troubleshooting]

### Why can I not see the Templates tab? [#why-can-i-not-see-the-templates-tab]

Only workspace owners and admins see the **Templates** tab. If you are a member, ask an owner or admin to add the template.

### Why did a template add fewer alerts than it lists? [#why-did-a-template-add-fewer-alerts-than-it-lists]

The domain already had some of the rules, or some modules are not set up. Rules that show **Added** or **Needs set-up** are not added. Set up the missing module, then add the template again.

### Why is a template missing from the Templates tab? [#why-is-a-template-missing-from-the-templates-tab]

The domain already has every rule of that template. Find the rules on the **Alerts** tab.

## Related [#related]

- [Alerts](/domain/alerts) - create, change and share alert rules
- [Alert delivery](/domain/alerts/delivery) - email, the bell, Slack and webhooks
- [Overview](/domain/overview) - see which modules are set up
- [Notifications](/account/notifications) - your inbox and email settings