Instead of attaching files, host them online for linking in an email

Host a file like a PDF, Word document, PowerPoint presentation, or Excel spreadsheet online for linking in a campaign email

Files such as PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations can't be added as attachments to your email, but they can be hosted online and then linked to. There are multiple benefits to doing this. It allows your contacts who don't have compatible software to access the file, and it prevents large file sizes from making your email undeliverable.

You have a few options for hosting your files online:

• Constant Contact - Upload any document with a compatible file type and size to the Library.
• Your Own Website - Upload your file to the web and host it on your own website, or ask your Webmaster to do it for you.
• Third Party Service - Upload your file to the Internet with a third party file hosting service, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or Digioh.

Once your document is hosted, you can copy the URL from whichever source you chose and then insert it into your email as a text link, or create a clear call-to-action with a button. For example, you can link to a shared Google Document or Sheet or link to a Dropbox file. You can also link to an image from your website or social media platform that isn't hosted in your Library.

Save Time: When you upload your documents to the Library, you don't have to waste time finding the document's URL - you can insert a document without leaving your email draft. You even have the ability to create an email directly from your PDF.

Links to documents in an email work differently depending on the document type. PDF files open in your browser and then have the option to be saved for offline viewing in Adobe Reader or other compatible PDF viewers. Word documents, Excel files, and PowerPoint presentations aren't viewable from your browser and must first be saved or opened in MS Office or other compatible programs.

Additionally, various mobile browsers handle PDF files differently. Constant Contact isn't able to influence how mobile browsers handle PDF files. Chrome for Android does not include a PDF viewer. It will download the PDF to a file. Firefox for Android will also download the PDF to a file by default, unless a viewer add-on is used. Chrome and Safari for iOS do include a PDF viewer. 

Tip: Looking for ways to make your emails more engaging? Check out our blog on email design.

Any links we provide from non-Constant Contact sites or information about non-Constant Contact products or services are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as an endorsement by Constant Contact.

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