How to create a custom template in Worklayer

Use Case: When you need a template for a deliverable not covered by built-in templates (like experiment plans or competitive analysis) Time to Complete: 10 minutes Prerequisites: Workspace set up with Templates/ folder

Quick Answer

In Worklayer, create custom templates by writing markdown files in Templates/ with section headings, placeholder text, and formatting guidelines. Reference your template with @Templates/[path] and AI fills in each section based on your context.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Identify the Template Need

Determine what deliverable you create repeatedly that needs a consistent format.

Examples:

Experiment plan template
Competitive analysis template
Feature brief template
Go-to-market plan template

Step 2: Define Template Structure

Outline the sections your template needs. Look at 2-3 examples of this deliverable to identify common sections.

Example: Experiment plan

1. Hypothesis
2. Success metrics
3. Experiment design
4. Timeline
5. Analysis plan

Step 3: Create Template File

Create a markdown file in Templates/ with section headings and placeholder instructions.

Example: Templates/Work/experiment-plan-template.md

# Experiment Plan: [Experiment Name]

## Hypothesis
[State the hypothesis in if-then format: "If [change], then [expected outcome] because [reasoning]"]

## Success Metrics
| Metric | Baseline | Target | Measurement Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Primary metric] | [Current value] | [Target value] | [How to measure] |

## Experiment Design
[Describe the experiment setup, control vs treatment, sample size, duration]

## Timeline
- Setup: [Date]
- Launch: [Date]
- Analysis: [Date]

## Analysis Plan
[How will you analyze results? What statistical tests? What decision criteria?]

## Risks and Mitigation
- Risk 1: [What could go wrong]
- Mitigation: [How to prevent or address]

Step 4: Test the Template

Generate a test deliverable using your template to verify structure and placeholder text work.

Example:

Use @Templates/Work/experiment-plan-template.md to create an experiment plan for testing "Onboarding Checklist Feature" impact on Day-1 activation.

Step 5: Refine and Save

If the output is missing sections or formatting is unclear, update the template and test again.

Example: End-to-End Workflow

Let's create a competitive analysis template.

Step 1: Identify need:

You analyze competitors quarterly
Each analysis has: competitor overview, feature comparison, pricing, strengths/weaknesses
Need consistent format for comparisons

Step 2: Define structure:

1. Competitor Overview
2. Feature Comparison (table)
3. Pricing Comparison (table)
4. Strengths and Weaknesses
5. Competitive Positioning Recommendations

Step 3: Create template file (Templates/Work/competitive-analysis-template.md):

# Competitive Analysis: [Competitor Name]

**Date**: [Analysis date]
**Analyst**: [Your name]

## Competitor Overview
[1-2 paragraph summary: What is this product? Who uses it? What problem does it solve?]

## Feature Comparison

| Feature | Our Product | [Competitor] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| [Feature 1] | [Yes/No/Partial] | [Yes/No/Partial] | [Differences] |
| [Feature 2] | [Yes/No/Partial] | [Yes/No/Partial] | [Differences] |

## Pricing Comparison

| Plan | Our Product | [Competitor] | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | [Details] | [Details] | [Analysis] |
| Paid tier | [Details] | [Details] | [Analysis] |

## Strengths and Weaknesses

**Their Strengths:**
- [Strength 1]
- [Strength 2]

**Their Weaknesses:**
- [Weakness 1]
- [Weakness 2]

**Our Advantages:**
- [How we're better]

**Our Gaps:**
- [Where they're better]

## Competitive Positioning Recommendations
[Based on this analysis, how should we position against this competitor? What should we emphasize? What gaps should we fill?]

Step 4: Test template:

Use @Templates/Work/competitive-analysis-template.md to create a competitive analysis for Notion, comparing their PM features to Worklayer.

Step 5: Review output:

# Competitive Analysis: Notion

**Date**: March 23, 2026
**Analyst**: Founder

## Competitor Overview
Notion is an all-in-one workspace combining docs, wikis, databases, and project management. Used by 30M+ users...

## Feature Comparison
| Feature | Worklayer | Notion | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI chat with context | Yes (built-in) | Yes (add-on, $10/mo extra) | Worklayer includes AI in base price |
| Local-first files | Yes | No (cloud-only) | Worklayer keeps files local |
| MCP integrations | Yes | No | Worklayer connects to Jira, Slack, etc. |
...

Output follows template structure exactly.

Time to create: 10 minutes Time to reuse: 0 minutes (just reference with @)

Tips & Best Practices

Use placeholder instructions: Add text like [1-2 paragraph summary] or [if-then format] to guide AI on what content to generate.
Include tables for structured data: Templates with tables (feature comparisons, metrics, timelines) produce consistent, scannable outputs.
Keep sections focused: Each section should answer one question. Don't combine "Risks" and "Timeline" into one section.
Add formatting guidelines: If you want specific formatting (bold headings, bullet lists, etc.), show examples in the template.
Version templates: When you update a template, save the old version (template-v1.md, template-v2.md) so old documents remain compatible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Too rigid: If your template says "Exactly 3 bullet points," AI may struggle when content needs 2 or 5 points. Keep templates flexible.
Missing placeholder text: If a section has only a heading with no guidance (e.g., "## Analysis"), AI won't know what content to generate. Add instructions.
Not testing templates: Create a test deliverable before using the template for real work. This ensures structure and placeholders work correctly.