Did you know that you can create templates in Outlook? If you have certain e-mails you send over and over to clients or other contacts, setting up a template is a quick and easy way to streamline the process, eliminating the need to copy and paste (and have to re-format) or re-type those common messages.

Microsoft Office’s support site lays out the necessary steps as follows for Outlook 2003:

Create an e-mail template

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
2. Clear the Use Microsoft Office Word 2003 to edit e-mail messages check box.
3. Click Apply, and then click OK.
4. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Mail Message.
5. When the new message opens, give it an appropriate subject and compose your content. Leave space for variable information that will be added when you send the message.
6. On the File menu, click Save As.
7. In the Save as type list, click Outlook Template, and then click Save.
8. To restore Word as the message editor, click Options on the Tools menu, click the Mail Format tab, and then select the Use Microsoft Office Word 2003 to edit e-mail messages check box.
9. Click Apply, and then click OK.

That’s it! In just a couple of minutes, your template is ready to go. When you want to select the template for an e-mail, all you have to do is hit the down arrow on the New Message button () and select ‘Choose Form’, which will take you to a new window with all of your available forms.  Selecting ‘User Templates In File System’ in the drop-down menu at the top of the window will bring you to the templates that you’ve created and saved.  Select the one you want, click ‘Open’, and you’re good to go!