Overview
Sometimes you need to share a file with recipients — a PDF statement, a terms document, a form to fill in — without attaching it to the email itself. Linking to a hosted version inside your Asset Library is the cleaner way to do this. The file stays small to send, recipients click straight through to it, and you keep a single source of truth for the document.
The process is the same regardless of file type. Grab the URL from the Asset Library, then drop it into your template using whichever editor you're working in.
Good to know
Linking to hosted files works well for anything you'd otherwise attach: PDFs, forms, brochures, fact sheets. It's especially handy for documents that get updated regularly, since you only have to replace the file in one place.
Copy the URL from your Asset Library
Before you add the link to your template, you need the URL of the file you're pointing to.
- Open the Application your template lives in.
- Open the Asset Library.
- Find the file you want to link to, right-click on it, and select Copy URL.
That's the URL you'll paste into your template in a moment. Keep it on your clipboard and head back to your template.
Copy the URL from an externally hosted asset
You're not limited to files stored in the Asset Library. If the file you want to link to lives somewhere else, like your company website, a cloud storage service, or a document management system, you can use that URL too. The steps to add it to your template are exactly the same once you've got the link.
- Navigate to where your file is hosted in a new browser tab.
- Right-click on the file or its download link and select Copy link address (the exact wording will vary depending on your browser).
- Open the file URL in a new private or incognito window to confirm it loads without needing to log in.
Heads up on access
Recipients won't be signed into your cloud storage or internal systems, so the file needs to be set to public or share-by-link access. If the link asks for a login when you open it in an incognito window, your recipients will hit the same wall.
Add the link in the Visual Editor
If you're building your email with the drag-and-drop canvas, this is the path for you. You can attach a hosted link to an image, a button, or a piece of text — whatever fits the design.
- Open your template in the Visual Editor.
- Add an image, button, or text link to your email on the design canvas.
- In the right-hand side panel, paste the URL of your hosted asset into the Link field.
- Add a relevant label that describes the action, like "Download your statement" or "View the form".
- Click Save.
Below is what the right-hand panel looks like when you're editing a button. The same field appears for images and text links, so once you've seen it in one place you'll spot it everywhere.
Add the link in the Advanced HTML or Text Editor
If you're working directly in code, you'll add the link with a standard anchor tag. Paste the URL you copied earlier into the href attribute, then write the text recipients will see between the opening and closing tags.
<a href="https://your-hosted-url.com/file.pdf">Download the form</a>
Swap the URL for the one you copied from the Asset Library, and change the link text to whatever suits your message. That's all there is to it.
A quick tip on link text
Write link text that tells recipients what they'll get when they click — "View your policy document" rather than "Click here". It's clearer for everyone and plays nicer with screen readers.
What's next
Send yourself a test before you push the campaign live. Open the email, click the link, and make sure the file loads the way you'd expect. If anything's off, head back to your Asset Library, recopy the URL, and try again.