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Recreating your legacy brochure files as smart files
Recreating your legacy brochure files as smart files

How to send smart files that replicate the legacy brochure file experience

Updated over a week ago

The ability to promote your brand and showcase your services in a way that fits in with your company's aesthetic is crucial to the booking process of any business—which is why we’ve added enhanced design and customization features in our new smart files builder.

To save you the time and effort of recreating your legacy files as smart files, we've already updated your brochure file templates. But not to worry—you can also find your original legacy brochure templates in the Legacy Files tab of your Templates section.

In addition to having updated templates ready for you, you’ll still be able to quickly and easily build out a simple client brochure that allows clients to select services and answer questions—even with all the enhancements of smart files.


This article references smart files, our newest file experience offering more power and customization than ever. Click here to learn more about smart files and add them to your account!


Legacy brochure files vs. smart files

Just as you could with legacy brochure files, you can easily create simple, beautiful brochures with smart files that showcase your services and allow clients to select the items, packages, or services they'd like to purchase from you.

When creating a brochure, smart files will allow you all the same options as legacy files, including the ability to:

  • Add services

  • Add images and text

  • Add questions

  • Customize how clients can select services (make selection required, allow multiple selections, allow quantity adjustments, make services view-only, etc.)

  • Add multiple service selection sections (for example, a section to select a package, and a separate section to select add-ons)

  • Automatically draft a follow-up invoice/proposal based on the client's selections

What’s new with smart files? Instead of being limited to individual documents and emails, you can create a smart file that combines elements of your process (think service selection + invoice + contract, for example) as well as customizing the look and feel of the file with additional branding options and more opportunities to add in content!

But, of course, you can also keep things simple and send over a smart file that contains just a few actions—such services to select and questions to answer—just like you’re used to doing with your legacy brochure files!


Locating & sending your templates

You can access your updated templates in your Templates section—we've automatically updated all of your legacy brochure templates!

To find your updated templates:

1. Click the Tools menu in your top navigation bar.

2. Select My Templates.

3. Click Filters and select Services.

This will filter your templates to only show those that include a services block. All the templates you see here are your own, and they'll each have the same name as they did when they were file templates!

4. Click to open the template you'd like to review or adjust. From there, if needed, you can make changes to the services or other elements of the file; or, you can simply keep the document as-is!

Either way, when you're ready, you can click Use Template to send the smart file in a project, just as you would with a legacy brochure file.

  • HoneyBook Tip: Want to start organizing your updated templates into folders? Learn how here!

PLEASE NOTE: Your original file templates are still there, too! You can find them in the Legacy Files tab of your Templates section.


Making changes to smart file templates

You shouldn't have to make changes to these updated templates—they'll come complete with all of your original content and branding, after all!—so you can always simply send them out as-is. That said, you can certainly add in some of the new smart file features.

Make small changes like updating the font and color scheme, adding an image or two, or including a couple questions you'd like clients to answer; or, take it up a notch by adding another action to the file (like an invoice and/or a contract, both of which can dynamically update based on clients' service selections).

Each template can be as simple or as detailed as you'd like, and just as you could with legacy files, you can make adjustments for specific clients before you share a smart file with project participants.


Recreating traditional brochure formats with smart files

Want to start from scratch and create a brand new brochure template in the smart files builder? Here’s what you’ll add to match the components of the brochures that you’re used to.

As a reminder, legacy brochure files allow you to include service selections, images, text, and questions.

To create a brochure:

1. Start with a blank brochure:

  • To create a brochure template: head to Templates, click Create New, and select Services.

  • To create a brochure in a project: open the project in question, click Create New, select Services, then + Start from blank.

A new brochure will be created, with a company info block and a blank services block already added for easy customization.

2. From the Pages menu, click the page title to customize—you might name a page with service selections "Pricing Options," "Packages," "Services," etc. Whatever best suits your process!

4. To fully replicate the look of legacy brochure files, you'll see that a company info block is also included at the top of the page, using the information under your Company Settings. If needed, you can click the appropriate component to customize the company info block.

5. Finally, if you'd like, round out your brochure by adding questions, text, or images!

When everything looks good, click Preview at the top of the builder to preview the client-side view of the contract. Then, click Update Template to save it; or, if you're in a project, send it off to your client!


Next steps to customize your smart files

Now that you know how to create a simple brochure file, you can start thinking about how to add on and continue to customize your documents in this new smart files builder—and in ways you never could before!

Once you've added services to your smart file, you can:

...and more!

Then, you can send your beautiful smart files out to your clients!

Still have questions? Feel free to send us a message by clicking the Question Mark icon on any HoneyBook page. Our team is always happy to help!

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