Share a PDF, guide or other supported file with a useful download link. Learn how to prepare the file, explain the download and test access.
You have finished a guide, menu or information pack. Now you need a simple way to give it to people. A file link turns a supported upload into an address you can share in a message, on a bio page or through a QR code.
The best download experience starts before the upload. People need to know what the file contains, whether it is relevant and what will happen when they open the link.
Prepare the file for the person receiving it
Use a descriptive filename such as workshop-preparation-guide.pdf. A filename like final-v7-new.pdf may make sense on your computer, but it tells a customer very little.
Check the file size, open it on another device and remove material that should not be shared. For a PDF, make sure the text is readable on a phone. If a document contains selectable text, that is usually easier to search and copy than a document made entirely from screenshots.
A shareable URL is not a private document vault. Anyone who receives an unrestricted link may pass it on. Do not use a public download for confidential records.
Create a file link in r37dy
- Check your account access. File links have their own plan allowance. Check the current plan details and the upload restrictions shown in the interface.
- Open File links. Create a file link and upload the supported file.
- Choose the available link settings. Use an understandable address when custom aliases are included in your plan.
- Save the link and test it. Open the public address outside your signed-in dashboard and confirm that it leads to the intended file.
- Share it with context. Tell the reader the format, purpose and size when those details help them decide whether to download.
Supported formats and size limits are displayed by r37dy and may change with the service configuration. Check those limits before designing a workflow around large files.
Example: a workshop preparation pack
Suppose you run a pottery workshop and want attendees to read a two-page preparation guide. You could place a button on your bio page labelled “Download the workshop guide — PDF.” In the document, include the workshop name, what to bring and the date of the current edition.
That is clearer than a button labelled “Important information” with no clue that it starts a download. If the file is large, include its approximate size beside the link so people on a mobile connection can make an informed choice.
Keep the shared address and the document in sync
When a guide changes, review the file linked from every active placement. If you update the upload associated with a link, open the public URL again to check that the new version is the one a visitor receives. Do not assume that an already-downloaded copy on someone's device will update itself.
Put a version date inside documents that are likely to be saved or printed. If you create a new public link instead, update the references on your website, bio page and other channels that you control.
Know what your statistics can tell you
Activity on a file link can help you see whether people are reaching it. It does not prove that they read the document or completed the action described inside it. Treat clicks as a signal about distribution, then use a separate enquiry or signup process if you need to measure the next step.
Our guide to link analytics explains how to avoid reading too much into a visit count.
Before you send the link
- Open the file on a phone and a desktop.
- Check the filename, title, dates and contact details.
- Test the public link without relying on your dashboard session.
- Make sure you have the right to distribute the material.
- Explain the download in the text around the link.
Create a r37dy account to explore the dashboard and check the current File links allowance. Start with one well-prepared document and a link your audience can understand.