Website Template Library (Lofty AOS)

Introduction

The Website Template Library lets Company Owners and Admins create, manage, and apply custom website templates across their organization. Instead of each agent setting up their site from scratch, admins can build a branded template once and apply it across all agent sites — with the option to lock specific settings so agents can't override them.

Before You Begin

Who can use this feature: The Website Template Library is available to Company Owners and Admins only. Individual agents do not have access to this feature.

Access requirement:

Template limit: You can have up to 5 custom templates per Lofty account at the same time.

Accessing the Template Library

1. Open the Website CMS (from the Lofty top nav, click Content > Websites, then click your site).
2. Navigate to the Template Library section in the CMS.
3. The Template Library opens, showing Lofty's default templates and any custom templates your account has already created.

Using a Default Template

1. In the Template Library, browse the available default templates.
2. Click a template to preview it before applying.
3. Select the template you want to use. It will be applied to the sites you assign it to.

Creating a Custom Template

You can create a custom template in two ways: by saving an existing site's design as a template, or by starting from one of Lofty's default templates.

Option 1: Create from an existing website

Use this option if you already have a site designed the way you want it and want to turn it into a reusable template.

1. In the Template Library, click Add New Template.
2. Select Create from an existing website and choose the site from your account.
3. Give the template a name and save it.

Option 2: Create from a default template

Use this option to start from one of Lofty's built-in layouts and customize it.

1. In the Template Library, click Add New Template.
2. Select Create from a default template and choose the template you want to start from.
3. Give the template a name and save it. The template opens in the Template Editor.

Editing a Custom Template

Custom templates open in the Template Editor, which works similarly to the regular website page editor but with a simplified set of controls.

What's different in the Template Editor: - The left navigation shows only Settings and Page Editor — there is no full site view or preview option. - The top-left displays the template name instead of a URL. - The top-right does not have the usual View Site / Preview buttons.

Template Settings

Within the Template Editor's Settings, you can configure the template's site-wide properties — including theme, fonts, header, footer, favicon, registration pop-up style, and questionnaire style.

Each setting has a lock icon: - Locked (🔒) — the setting is fixed and cannot be changed by agents on sites using this template. All existing sites created from this template will be synchronized to the locked value. - Unlocked — agents can override this setting on their own site.

Tips

• Lock your branding. Use the lock icon on Theme Color, Logo, and Favicon settings to ensure consistent branding across all agent sites built from this template.
• Leave content flexible. Consider leaving page content settings unlocked so agents can personalize their own bio, contact info, and listings without breaking the brand.
• Plan before you build. Set up your Company website the way you want it, then use "Create from existing website" to turn that design into a template. This is the fastest way to get a well-tested template into the library.
• 5-template limit. You have 5 custom template slots per account. Archive or delete templates you no longer need to free up space.

Troubleshooting

I don't see the Template Library in my CMS. This feature may need to be enabled for your account. Contact Lofty Support at support@lofty.com or call 1 (855) 981-7557 to request access.

The Template Editor doesn't have a preview option. This is by design. The Template Editor has a simplified interface — you can see your changes in the editor canvas but there is no full site preview. To preview, apply the template to a test site and view it from there.

I locked a setting and now agents are asking to change it. To unlock a setting, go back into the Template Editor > Settings, find the setting, and toggle the lock icon to unlocked. The change will propagate to all sites using this template.

I've hit the 5-template limit. Delete or archive a template you're no longer using to free up a slot. Make sure no active sites are using the template before deleting it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can agents see or access the Template Library? No. The Template Library is visible and accessible to Company Owners and Admins only.

If I update a template, do existing sites change automatically? Settings that are locked in the template will sync to existing sites when the template is updated. Unlocked settings on individual sites are not affected.

Can I apply a template to an existing agent site?

What's the difference between a custom template and just copying a site? A template is a controlled master that you can lock and update centrally. When you update a locked setting in a template, it pushes to all sites built from it. Copying a site just duplicates it once — there is no ongoing connection.

Can I have more than 5 custom templates? No, the limit is 5 custom templates per account. You can work around this by maintaining 5 templates and updating them as your needs change.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding this topic or any others, please reach out to our Support Team via email at support@lofty.com, by phone at 1 (855) 981-7557, or by chat with us through your Lofty CRM.