How to receive files from a client without an account: the upload link, step by step
Create an upload link, send it, know what your client sees, what they receive and how you get notified: behind the scenes of an account-free upload, explained simply.
You are waiting for the rushes from a shoot, the photos from an event or a client's logo folder. They have no account and no desire to create one, and you have no desire to walk them through software over the phone. That is exactly what the upload link is for. Here is how it works, seen from both sides, with tips that are useful even if you use a different tool.
The principle: a web address, not an account
An upload link is an address that you create and then give to your client. Anyone who opens it lands on a page where they can drag and drop files and folders. Nothing to install: a recent browser is enough, on Mac, PC, iPhone or Android. The files then arrive in your account.
On Misi.Link, upload links are part of the paid plans (Pro and Enterprise). You are the one with a subscription; your client has nothing to create. Here is the complete process in four stages.
Step 1: create the link
In My account, open the Upload links section and create your link. With the Enterprise plan, you can also choose a Drive folder under "Where files arrive": more on that below.
If you have a paid plan, also consider the branded page: your logo, your color and a background image appear on your upload links. For a client who hesitates to upload files to an unfamiliar page, seeing your visual identity is reassuring.
Step 2: send it with a clear message
The link is ready: copy it and send it by email, text message or messaging app, as you would with any other address. The weak point of an upload is not the technology, it is the instructions. A good message fits in a few lines:
- What you expect: original files rather than screenshots, a complete folder rather than loose files.
- By when: a date, not an "as soon as possible".
- What they will be asked for: their first and last name and, if they wish, their email address.
Announcing these fields in advance avoids the "what is this page?" question and saves you an exchange.
What your client sees
Your client opens the link and lands on a simple page, with no login. They can:
- drag and drop files and entire folders into the designated area, or pick them from their computer or phone;
- enter their first and last name, two required fields;
- leave their email address, if they are comfortable with it: it is optional.
Why ask for a name? Because an anonymous upload is a headache: "Dupont" or "Dupont2"? The email address stays optional so as not to slow down someone who simply wants to send their files, but it unlocks two things: you can reply to them, and they receive a summary.
A word about what goes on behind the scenes: large files are not sent in one single block. On Misi.Link, the upload is done in chunks and resumes on its own after a network interruption, without having to resend everything. That is what you should expect from any good upload service, because a client with a flaky Wi-Fi connection will not have the patience to start over twenty times.
Your side: the email that notifies you
When a client uploads files, you receive an email that shows the uploader's name and their address if they gave one. You can reply to them directly from that message: no need to look up their contact details elsewhere.
The files themselves are in your account. With the Enterprise plan, you can have them arrive directly in a Drive folder: each upload is filed in a "Last name First name — date" folder, with its subfolders, and it stays there with no expiration date. No archive to unzip: the folder is already organized. This is handy when a whole team works on the same projects.
Client side: the summary
If the uploader left their address, they receive a summary of what they uploaded. It is their acknowledgment of receipt: they know the upload went through and can find what they sent if in doubt. If they did not give an address, they get no summary, but you are notified all the same. In that case, a quick "received, thank you!" from you fills the gap.
Five tips for a smooth upload
- Do a test run: upload a small file yourself with the link before sending it, to see the page as your client will.
- Give an example of how to organize files: "one folder per shooting day", "photos sorted by location". The client will drag their folders over as they are.
- Encourage them to leave their email address: it entitles them to the summary, and you will be able to reply in one click.
- Confirm receipt: a single word is enough, and it avoids the follow-up "did you get everything?"
- Stay cautious when opening files: only open files from people you know, and beware of unexpected executables (.exe, .app, .bat…).
And if you also sell your files?
Photographers, videographers, graphic designers or trainers receive files, but also deliver them, sometimes for payment. With a Pro plan, Misi.Link lets you sell your files through a product page (image, description, price), with promo codes, serial numbers for software, a public shop and invoices. The details are on the Features page.
Over to you
An upload link is an address to hand out, a clear instruction and two emails that handle the follow-up for you. To try it out, the 7-day Pro trial requires no credit card, and the plans are detailed on the Pricing page.
