Create a Lead Capture Form with Free Download

How to Create a Lead Capture Form with a Free Download in PhotoBiz

Overview

You can use a PhotoBiz form to collect contact information and give visitors access to a free resource, such as a PDF, pricing guide, checklist, or other downloadable file. This type of lead capture form can help you build your contact list while providing something useful to potential clients.

You can display the download link immediately after someone submits the form or send the link in a confirmation email. This guide walks you through uploading your file, creating your lead capture form, configuring the download delivery, and adding the form to your PhotoBiz website.

STEP ONE

Click DOCUMENTS at the top of the Files Dashboard. Under File Upload, click add files or drag and drop your file into the uploader.

If you need help uploading a PDF or other downloadable file, see How Can I Add a PDF to My Website?.

STEP TWO

After the upload is complete, locate the file under Your File Library on the DOCUMENTS page.

Copy the URL shown in the LINK column for the file. You will use this link when you configure how visitors receive their free download.

STEP THREE

Click FORMS in the left-side menu to open the Forms Dashboard.

STEP FOUR

Click FORMS at the top, center of the Forms Dashboard to view your existing forms and form options.

STEP FIVE

Open an existing form you want to use for lead capture or create a new form.

For a simple lead capture form, you can start with a newsletter or blog signup form and customize it for your offer. You can also create a form that collects only the visitor's email address.

The Email field is the only required field on a PhotoBiz form. When someone submits the form, PhotoBiz uses the email address to create a new contact or associate the submission with an existing contact in your built-in Contacts section.

If you need help building a form, see How Do I Create a Custom Form?.

STEP SIX

If you want to organize the contacts collected through this form, click add a tag in the upper-left area of the form editor and add the Tag you want associated with the lead capture form.

The Tag must be applied to the form before it is submitted. When someone submits the form, PhotoBiz automatically adds the Tag to that person's contact record. This applies whether the submission creates a new contact or comes from someone who already exists in your Contacts.

After adding your Tag, or if you do not want to use one, click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the form editor. Click settings from the menu that appears.

See How To Add A Tag To A Form for complete Tag instructions.

STEP SEVEN

Choose how you want visitors to receive the free download.

To display the download immediately after the form is submitted, set Email Thank You Message to No. Add a thank-you message that includes the file URL you copied from the LINK column in STEP TWO.

To send the download by email instead, set Email Thank You Message to Yes and include the file URL in the confirmation email message. PhotoBiz sends the message after the visitor successfully submits the form.

When you finish configuring the form, scroll down and click Save Changes.

FINAL STEP

Click WEBSITE in the left-side menu and open the page where you want your lead capture form to appear. Add a Form Block where you want the form displayed.

In the Form Block settings, select the appropriate form category, then select the lead capture form you created. Click Save Changes to apply the form to your website.

Your lead capture form is now ready. When a visitor submits it, their submission is associated with their PhotoBiz contact record, any Tag applied to the form is automatically added to that contact, and they receive access to your free download using the delivery method you configured.

Download Delivery Options

You can choose the delivery method that best fits your workflow:

Thank-you screen: Give visitors immediate access to the download after they submit the form.
Confirmation email: Send the download link to the email address entered on the form.

Sending the resource by email can be helpful when you want the visitor to access the download from the email address they provided.

How Tags Help Organize Your Leads

A Tag can help you identify contacts based on the specific resource or offer they requested.

For example, you might use Tags such as:

Wedding Pricing Guide
Senior Guide Download
Mini Session Lead
Free Guide Download

When a Tag is applied to the form before submission, PhotoBiz automatically adds it to the contact each time the form is submitted. This works for both new and existing contacts.

Using descriptive Tags makes it easier to segment contacts later and send marketing that is relevant to what they showed interest in.

Using Your New Contacts for Email Marketing

People who submit your form are added to or matched with contacts in the built-in Contacts section of your PhotoBiz account.

You can use the Marketing tool included with your PhotoBiz website to send email marketing campaigns to eligible contacts. PhotoBiz website membership includes up to 10,000 marketing emails per month.

When using a lead capture form for future email marketing, clearly explain what visitors are signing up to receive and follow any email marketing or privacy requirements that apply to your business.

Related Guide: How To Create an Email Marketing Campaign

Test Your Lead Capture Form

Before promoting your free download, submit a test entry through the form on your website.

Confirm that:

The form submits successfully.
The test contact appears in Contacts.
The correct Tag is added to the contact if you applied one to the form.
The download link opens the correct file.
The thank-you screen or confirmation email delivers the download as expected.

Testing the complete workflow can help you catch an incorrect setting or broken download link before visitors begin using the form.

File Size Limits

The PhotoBiz Website Package allows files up to 4 MB to be uploaded to your account.

If your downloadable resource is larger than 4 MB, the Original Files premium upgrade allows files up to 50 MB.

Important Note About Download Links

The URL shown in the LINK column points directly to the uploaded file. Anyone who receives the URL can access the file and may be able to share the link or downloaded file with others.

This workflow works well for free resources and lead magnets that you are comfortable making available to anyone who receives the link. It is not intended to provide restricted or individualized access to private files.

Want to Use a Pop-Up Instead?

You can also display your lead capture form in a website pop-up instead of placing it directly on a page.

See How to Use Pop-Ups for Free Downloads & Lead Generation for instructions on creating a pop-up lead generation workflow.

Need Help?

Support Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm EST

Phone: 866.463.7620

Support Channels: Phone, Live Chat, Support Ticket

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