DocuSigner allows you to easily collect signatures from individuals, even if they don't have a DocuSigner account, by generating a secure public signing link for your prepared documents.
When to Use Public Links
Public links are ideal for scenarios where:
- You need a signature from someone external to your organization.
- You want to quickly share a document for signing without adding the recipient as a contact or user in your system.
- You are collecting signatures from a wider audience (e.g., event waivers, generic consent forms).
Generating a Public Link
After you have uploaded your document and placed all necessary fields using the Document Editor, you can generate a public link. The process typically involves:
- Navigating to the document you wish to share (usually from the Document Editor or your document list).
- Finding a "Share" or "Get Public Link" option. This might be in the main action bar or within a document's option menu.
- Clicking this option will open a dialog or panel where you can configure the link.
Link Configuration Options
When generating a public link, DocuSigner often provides several options to enhance security and control:
- Require Email Verification: If enabled, the signer will need to enter their email address, and a verification code or link might be sent to that email before they can access or sign the document. This adds a layer of identity verification.
- Set Expiration Date: You can specify a date after which the public link will no longer be active. This is useful for time-sensitive agreements.
- Usage Limits: (Advanced feature, may not be in all plans) Limit the number of times a link can be used or the number of signatures it can collect.
Once configured, click "Generate Link."
Sharing and Managing the Link
After generation, the unique public link will be displayed. You can:
- Copy the Link: Easily copy the link to your clipboard to paste into emails, messaging apps, or embed on a website.
- Share Directly (if available): Some platforms might offer direct email sharing options from the link generation dialog.
It's important to treat these links as sensitive, as anyone with the link can potentially access the document for signing (unless other security measures like email verification are in place).
You can usually manage or revoke active public links from your document's settings or a dedicated sharing management area within DocuSigner.
Best Practices:
- Always consider enabling email verification for public links involving sensitive information.
- Set expiration dates for links that are time-sensitive to prevent outdated access.
- Keep track of who you've shared links with, especially if multiple individuals will use the same generic link.
- Regularly review and revoke links that are no longer needed.
Public links provide a flexible and powerful way to extend DocuSigner's capabilities for collecting signatures from a broad range of participants.