diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
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+**Note:** if you have a question about how to use Handlebars, we recommend asking it on [Stack Overflow](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/handlebars.js). The Panini issue tracker is for reporting bugs (and requesting features) related to using Panini specifically.
+
+If you're encountering an error while using Panini, please paste in the error message, and if possible, the code for the page that isn't working. It's super helpful.
+
+Lastly, thanks for contributing to the project! :)
diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
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+Thanks for contributing to Panini! If you're adding a new feature, it can be helpful to open a new issue first, so the feature can be discussed before we commit to it.
+
+Before submitting your pull request, make sure all the existing unit tests pass. You can run the tests with the `npm test` command. If you're adding a new feature to Panini, please also add new unit tests for the feature.