How to Send a Dropbox Upload Link
Inquire a client to ship yous files over email and it's just a matter of fourth dimension before you run into bug like file size limits or lose those email attachments in long threads. There are a few other ways you tin can request files from clients, and a pop selection is to employ a shared drive like Dropbox.
Ditch the endless email threads
Spare yourself the time wasted searching for attachments deep in your lengthy email threads. When yous use Content Snare, clients tin can upload large files to y'all directly through the platform.
What is a Dropbox file request?
Dropbox file requests are an easy way to receive large files from your clients. The Dropbox feature is like shooting fish in a barrel for your clients to utilise, and doesn't crave them to have a Dropbox business relationship to submit files.
Here's a step-by-footstep guide on how to use Dropbox to receive files, a couple of things to go along in mind, and some other option to explore if y'all're a business looking for a more powerful file request tool.
How to use Dropbox file requests
1. How to create a Dropbox file asking
You need a Dropbox account to create a file request. One time you sign up for an account, log in to your Dropbox business relationship.
Under the "files" heading on the left sidebar of the home page, select "file requests".
On the new file requests page, click the blue "new request" button on the right.
A "create new asking" window will pop up request you to fill up in some fields.
Here's what to include in your request to make sure y'all become the correct files from your clients:
- Championship
This explains what the request is for and will be the default name of the folder yous create within Dropbox.It's non a bad idea to be specific with this name to stay organized. If you're requesting headshots, for example, proper noun it "Headshot Photos, August 2020".
- Description
The description field in Dropbox is optional, simply if you lot want to spare yourself a whole lot of back and forth when clients send yous the wrong files, we recommend filling it out with detailed instructions. The more specific, the better!Yous tin can specify things like:
- file type (PNG, not JPEG for case)
- prototype size (minimum and maximum pixels)
- photo orientation (portrait vs landscape)
- a descriptive note like "make sure we can see your shoulders in the headshots." - Folder for uploaded files
This tells you where your clients files will become one time they submit them.Dropbox selects "file requests" as the default binder, but you lot can select a different Dropbox folder manually if yous click on "alter folder".
- Fix a deadline
Another optional feature with Dropbox is setting a deadline.Activate this feature past checking the "fix a deadline" box.
When you check the box, the window will expand to testify you 3 more than fields.Select your borderline engagement and borderline time past clicking on the downwards arrows next to each field.
You can then choose whether or non yous desire to allow tardily uploads past that deadline, and if and then, how many days tardily you will accept the file request.
Once you lot have your fields field in and your options selected, click the bluish "create" button.
Yous'll receive an automatic email from Dropbox confirming you've created a file request and giving you the option to preview it if y'all'd like. This is what it will look like.
ii. How to share a Dropbox file asking
One time you have your new file asking set up, a window will pop up titled "share file request".
In the "add together a message" space, you can add together in an optional bulletin for your clients. You lot might desire to include 1 if your client isn't familiar with Dropbox still and you want to let them know this email is coming from you lot.
And then, you tin can share the file asking in one of 2 ways:
- Email
In the "to" field, you can type in your clients email address. - Share a file request link
Under "share a link instead" you'll see a long machine-generated link that sends visitors directly to your file request.To utilize this link, click the white "copy" push and the link volition become copied to your clipboard.
You may desire to share through the link instead if y'all programme on contacting your client or uploader via another platform like Slack or Asana.
Click the blue "share" push button to send off your file request via email, or the white "done" button to close the window afterwards you've copied the Dropbox file request link to your clipboard.
How to change a Dropbox file asking
Create a file request and realize yous totally screwed up with embarrassing typos, forgot to add in the most important spec, or completely blanked on sending it to another member on your clients' squad? Whoops!
Don't worry, you can still edit your file request even if y'all've closed off the file request window.
Here's how to modify your Dropbox file request:
Return to the "file requests" folio in the Dropbox sidebar.
You volition see a listing of your "open" and "closed" requests.
Click on the three dots at the very end of the folder (or requests) row on the right.
You lot volition have the options to:
- Copy link
When y'all click this, the link to your file request will go copied to your clipboard over again. Yous volition see a modest black window pop up at the lesser of your screen confirming it has been copied to the clipboard. - Share
Click here to re-share your request, or share it with more contacts. The aforementioned "share file request" window volition popular up again asking you lot to share past email or link. - Edit
This is where you tin edit your original file request including the title, description, and deadline. - Close
If y'all no longer need to receive files for your file request, selecting "close" will close the request, and move it to the "airtight" tab of your file requests. - Re-open up (on the closed requests tab)
If yous're wondering how to reopen a closed Dropbox file request, select the "closed" tab on your file requests page.Click the 3 dots at the finish of the row.
Select "re-open".
This will open your file asking once more, and motion information technology to the "open" tab of your file requests.
How to upload files to a Dropbox file request
Now let's take a expect at how this all works on your clients' side.
If y'all've sent your client the request via electronic mail, they'll receive an email from Dropbox that looks like this:
Whether they click the blue button in the electronic mail or access the link you sent over elsewhere, they'll see your file request complete with the title the description you wrote in. It'll look like this:
Your client tin can at present upload to your file asking by clicking on the "add together files" push button. It volition give them the pick to search for and upload:
- Filed from their reckoner
- Folders from their computer
- Files or folders from their ain Dropbox if they have an account
They can also drag and drib files from their computer over the Dropbox window.
One time your customer has selected their files, the window volition expect like this:
While they won't need a Dropbox account to upload files, they will need to leave a name and email address in the field at the lesser.
Once they hitting the blueish "upload" button, they'll get a confirmation that their files went through.
Should they accept missed a file, they nevertheless get the option to upload more than files.
They'll too get an electronic mail confirming what they uploaded.
How to view files from a Dropbox file request
One time your client uploads their files to your file request, y'all'll get an electronic mail from Dropbox letting you lot know. It'll look like this and volition invite yous to view the files:
And boom! Y'all'll see a list of the files your customer has uploaded on your file asking folio.
Once you're in there, in that location are a couple of actions you lot can take by clicking on the three dots on the far right.
You can:
- Share
Share this file with someone else on your team, again via electronic mail or link. - Download
Select a location on your computer that you want to save the file to. - Ship with transfer
Dropbox transfer lets y'all securely transfer large files to anyone and ostend delivery. Offered as an upgrade option, Dropbox lets you lot endeavor this characteristic for free. - Add a comment
This will open up a new window next to the file and give yous a space to leave a comment. Y'all might use this space to say something like "Got it, cheers!", or mention an issue with the file "Not sure this is the right 1?".When you leave a comment, it will notify your uploader.
- Star
Add a star next to the file or folder for piece of cake finding later. - Version history
This will show you a history of versions of the file as well every bit when it was uploaded. It will come in handy if yous've had to ask your client for multiple uploads to make corrections. - Rename
You lot tin can rename the file if yous want to format it in a unlike manner than your client has. For example, if your client had the file proper noun as random numbers like 4566870, you lot might change it to "Headshot_team member name_date" to stay organized. - Motility
Move the file or folder elsewhere in your Dropbox - Copy
Copy over the file or binder elsewhere in your Dropbox.
Dropbox limitations to consider
Compared to some other shared drives, we retrieve Dropbox is actually bully for receiving files because information technology has a uncomplicated interface, doesn't require uploaders to accept a Dropbox account, and has a specific file request feature.
There are a few things to keep in mind if yous want to use Dropbox to receive files though:
- Approving or rejecting files takes some manual piece of work
Although Dropbox has a comments feature where you tin get out feedback on uploaded files, it doesn't give yous the selection to easily approve or turn down the uploaded file.If a client uploads the wrong version of a file, yous'll accept to leave them a comment and hope your client notices Dropbox's automatic e-mail with your comment, or take matters into your own hands and follow up with the client over electronic mail. Bit of a fourth dimension-waster.
- No built-in checklists
Another limitation of Dropbox is that information technology doesn't accept checklist features where y'all tin check items off a checklist as the files come in. Even though you come across when a customer has uploaded content, you tin can't see what's outstanding. - No email reminder schedules
Dropbox will ship your clients an email letting them know when a request has been created. But after that, it won't necessarily follow up regularly. This again requires yous to employ email to remind or follow up with your clients. - No text inputs
Shared drives similar Dropbox are fabricated for people to upload documents and images. It falls brusque when it comes to collecting text responses. Permit'due south say you want a client to complete a grade, so Dropbox isn't the best solution for that. - Storage limits and file size limits
Another thing to keep in mind is what limits come with your Dropbox plan. Dropbox's free plan starts you up with 2GB of free storage, from there, you can upgrade to different subscription options for individuals and for businesses, some plans of which offer unlimited storage.And then if you're going with a free or cheaper program, y'all'll want to stay on top of cleaning upward your files and deleting those y'all no longer demand to make sure you still have the space to collect files.
Compare Dropbox storage and pricing to other shared binder options here.
A Dropbox file request alternative
If you're worried nearly any of these Dropbox disadvantages, then you lot might want to consider some other, more all-encompassing tool for collecting files. And you betcha, it's our very own!
We built Content Snare to overcome the most common limitations of shared drives and traditional forms. Here are some features of the platform that will make your life easier when it comes to requesting files:
- Upload a combination files and text data
There's no demand to rely on one platform for files and images, and another for text. Content Snare tin can be used to collect both types of content. When you set upward a request, yous tin enquire for a combination of text, images, video, yous proper name it. - Keep rails of files with checklists
If you're a keen freak like we are, then yous'll love Content Snare's born checklists that y'all can create equally y'all ready your asking. Rather than creating your own excel canvass or jotting it all downwardly on paper, you tin simply check content off the list equally it comes in, and be able to run across what'due south withal missing in a glimpse.
- Approve or reject files as they come in
Rather than dropping clients a comment or sending followup emails, Content Snare lets you lot approve or pass up files as they come in. This volition save you countless time going back and forth with your clients.
- Automatic and scheduled email reminders
We mentioned how Dropbox sends out an initial electronic mail only won't necessarily transport regular email reminders to clients. When yous use Content Snare, you can ready time periods where the platform will practice the work to remind your clients to send over their content.Since you can usually spend a expert 10 minutes at a fourth dimension on reminding clients over electronic mail, this is another huge fourth dimension saver when you add together it all upwardly!
- Clients don't need an account to upload
Last but not least, we've made life easier for your client likewise and removed any annoying barriers by making sure they can upload to Content Snare without having a Content Snare account.Yep!
If you're thinking about switching to Content Snare and have whatever questions, drib the states a comment and nosotros'll be certain to answer.
Manage your entire file request process with an all-in-ane tool
Content Snare helps you lot request files, send out reminder emails, approve or reject customer files, and stay organized with a checklist.
Source: https://contentsnare.com/dropbox-file-request/