Clerk LogoClerk
Back to Help Center

Creating Summary Templates

Set up custom templates for different meeting types

What Are Templates?

Summary templates are instructions that guide the AI on how to summarize your meeting transcripts. Different types of meetings require different summary formats, and templates let you customize this for your needs.

Common Template Types:

  • • One-on-one meetings (focus on individual progress and blockers)
  • • Team standups (focus on updates, plans, and blockers)
  • • Client meetings (focus on requirements, decisions, and action items)
  • • Project planning (focus on goals, timeline, and responsibilities)
  • • Retrospectives (focus on what went well, what didn't, and improvements)

Creating a Template

1Navigate to Settings

Go to Settings from the navigation menu, then scroll down to the "Summary Templates" section.

2Click "New Template"

Click the "New Template" button to open the template creation dialog.

3Name Your Template

Give your template a clear, descriptive name that indicates when it should be used (e.g., "Weekly Team Standup" or "Client Discovery Call").

4Write Template Instructions

In the template instructions field, describe how you want the AI to summarize the meeting. Be specific about what sections to include and what information to highlight.

Example Template:

Please summarize this meeting in the following format:

## Key Discussion Points

List the main topics discussed

## Decisions Made

List any decisions or conclusions reached

## Action Items

List all action items with assigned owners and deadlines

## Next Steps

Outline what happens next

5Set as Default (Optional)

Your first template will automatically become the default. For subsequent templates, you can click the star icon to set a different template as the default. The default template will be used when generating summaries unless you choose a different one.

Default Template

The default template is automatically selected when generating summaries. You can change it anytime by clicking the star icon on a different template.

Managing Templates

Editing Templates

Click the edit icon (pencil) on any template card to modify its name or instructions. Your changes will be saved immediately.

Deleting Templates

Click the delete icon (trash) on any template card to remove it. Note: You cannot delete a template if it's the only one remaining.

Expanding/Collapsing

Click on a template card to expand it and view the full instructions. Click again to collapse.

Template Writing Tips

Be Specific About Format

Include specific headings, sections, and structure in your instructions. The more detailed you are, the more consistent your summaries will be.

Include Context

If certain types of information are important for your meetings (like deadlines, project names, or technical details), explicitly ask for them in the template.

Use Examples

You can include example formats or bullet point styles in your template to guide the AI's output.

Iterate and Refine

After using a template, review the generated summary and adjust the template instructions if needed to get better results.