Overview
Smart Links are reusable, branded payment URLs designed for marketing campaigns, social media sharing, and QR code payments. Unlike dynamic payment page links that need to be generated each time, Smart Links provide a permanent, memorable URL that you can share anywhere.Key Features
- Pretty URLs:
https://payrequest.me/[businessname]/[path] - QR Code Generation: Automatic QR code for every smart link
- Analytics Tracking: View counts, payment counts, revenue, and conversion rates
- Two Link Types: Product checkout or fixed amount payments
- Payment Limits: One-time, multiple, or unlimited payment options
- SMS & Email Delivery: Send links directly to customers via SMS or email
- Payment Reminders: Automatic follow-up reminders for unpaid links
- Tag Support: Organize smart links with tags for easy management
- Active/Inactive Toggle: Quickly enable or disable links
- After-Payment Actions: Redirect customers or update tags after successful payment
Accessing Smart Links
Navigate to Payment Page in your dashboard sidebar, then click the Smart Links tab.URL Structure
Every smart link follows this format:[your-handle]: Your payment page handle or business name[path]: Custom URL path (auto-generated from link name)
Creating a Smart Link
Step 1: Choose Link Type
When creating a new smart link, first select the type: Product Link- Links directly to a specific product
- Redirects to your shop’s product page
- Best for: Product promotions, catalog links, shop items
- Fixed payment amount
- Renders directly on payment page (keeps smart link URL visible)
- Best for: Donations, event tickets, service fees, deposits
Step 2: Configure Link Details
Required Fields:- Name: Descriptive name for the link (e.g., “Summer Sale Promotion”)
- Type: Product or Amount
- Product (for product links): Select from your product catalog
- Amount & Currency (for amount links): Set fixed payment amount
- Description: Public description shown to customers
- Tags: Organize links by campaign, category, or purpose
Step 3: Set Payment Limit (Optional)
Control how many times your smart link can be used for payments: Unlimited (Default)- Link stays active indefinitely
- Accepts unlimited payments
- Best for: Ongoing campaigns, permanent donation links
- Link automatically disables after the first successful payment
- Prevents multiple uses
- Best for: Individual invoices, one-time offers, exclusive deals
- Set a custom limit (1-1000 payments)
- Link disables when limit is reached
- Shows remaining payment count in analytics
- Best for: Limited inventory, early bird tickets, capacity-limited events
- Select payment limit type when creating the link
- For “Multiple times”, enter the maximum number of payments (1-1000)
- Smart link tracks successful payments automatically
- When limit is reached, customers see “Payment limit reached” message
- You can view remaining payments in the analytics dashboard
Step 4: Send to Customer (Optional)
Send the smart link directly to a customer via email or SMS: Delivery Options:- Select Customer: Choose from your customer list
- Choose Delivery Method:
- Email: Send to customer’s email address
- SMS: Send to customer’s phone number (requires valid international format)
- Both: Send via both email and SMS simultaneously
- Uses your configured email template
- Includes smart link URL
- Professional branded message
- Sent immediately upon creation
- Requires valid phone number (international format: +31612345678)
- Sent via MessageBird
- Personalized message with customer name
- Includes shortened payment link
- Sent from your business name
- Delivery status shown on smart link detail page
- Timestamp of when link was sent
- Delivery method badges (Email/SMS)
Step 4b: Enable Payment Reminders (Optional)
Automatically send follow-up reminders to customers who haven’t paid yet. This feature appears when you select a delivery method (Email or SMS). Enabling Reminders:- Select a customer and delivery method (Step 4)
- Check Enable Payment Reminders
- Configure reminder settings
- Daily: Send a reminder every day
- Every 2 days: Send reminder every other day
- Every 3 days: Send reminder every third day
- Weekly: Send one reminder per week
- Monthly: Send one reminder per month
- Set how many reminders to send (1-50)
- Use the slider or input field to select
- Reminders stop automatically when limit is reached
- Reminders also stop when payment is completed
- Initial smart link is sent to customer
- If no payment received, first reminder sent based on frequency
- Reminders continue until:
- Customer completes payment, OR
- Maximum reminder limit is reached
- Number of reminders sent vs. limit
- Next scheduled reminder date
- Reminder status
Step 5: Save and Share
After creating your smart link:- Copy the generated URL
- Download the QR code
- Share via social media, email, or print materials
Use Cases
1. Marketing Campaign
Create an amount link for a limited-time promotion:- Type: Amount Link
- Name: Early Bird Registration 2025
- Amount: €49.00
- Description: Special early bird discount - Register before December 31st!
- Social media posts
- Email newsletters
- WhatsApp messages
- Website banners
2. Event Registration
Fixed-price event ticket payment:- Clean, memorable URL
- Track registrations in real-time
- See conversion rate from social media
- QR code for physical posters
3. Donation Link
Permanent donation link for non-profit:- Fixed suggested amount (customers can change if payment page allows)
- Track total donations
- Calculate average donation size
- Share QR code in physical locations
4. Product Promotion
Direct link to specific product with tracking:- Shorter than dynamic product links
- Track which campaigns drive sales
- Measure conversion from different channels
- Professional branded URL
5. QR Code Payments
Print QR code on invoices, receipts, or signage: Use cases:- Restaurant table payments
- Service provider invoices
- Retail store deposits
- Event entrance fees
6. Limited Early Bird Campaign with SMS
Create scarcity with payment limits and instant SMS delivery:- Type: Amount Link
- Amount: €39.00 (normal price €59)
- Payment Limit: Multiple times - 50 payments
- Delivery: Send to existing customers via SMS
- Message: ”🎉 Early bird special! Only 50 spots at €39. Link: [URL]”
- Creates urgency with visible limit counter
- Instant SMS delivery to customer database
- Automatic deactivation at 50 payments
- Track conversion rate by delivery method
- Shows “X payments remaining” in real-time
- Send initial batch via SMS to VIP customers
- Share link on social media once SMS customers claim spots
- Monitor analytics to see SMS vs social media conversion
- Link automatically closes when limit reached
Analytics Dashboard
Every smart link tracks comprehensive analytics:Key Metrics
Views- Total number of link visits
- Tracks every time someone opens the URL
- Blue icon with eye symbol
- Detailed view tracking: IP address (masked), browser/OS, referer, timestamp
- Successful payments through this link
- Green icon with credit card symbol
- Shows conversion percentage:
(payments / views) × 100
- Total amount collected via this smart link
- Purple icon with euro symbol
- Shows average payment value:
revenue / payments
Payment Limit Tracking
For smart links with payment limits, the detail page shows: Remaining Payments Badge:- Color-coded status indicator
- Green: 4+ payments remaining
- Orange: 1-3 payments remaining
- Red: Limit reached
- Current limit type (One-time, Multiple, Unlimited)
- Total limit (for multiple payment links)
- Remaining payment count
- Percentage of limit used
Delivery Information
If you sent the smart link to a customer, the detail page displays: Delivery Card:- Delivery methods used (Email/SMS badges)
- Timestamp of when link was sent
- Relative time (e.g., “2 hours ago”)
Activity Log (Tabbed Interface)
The smart link detail page shows a comprehensive activity dashboard with four tabs:All Tab
Overview of all activity combined, sorted by date (newest first):- Payment events
- View events
- Link sent events
- Reminder events
Views Tab
Detailed view analytics with pagination (10 per page): Information tracked per view:- Timestamp (e.g., “Dec 14, 2025 17:47”)
- Browser & OS (e.g., “Chrome / Mac”, “Safari / iOS”)
- IP address (masked for privacy: “192.168.1.xxx”)
- Referer URL (where visitor came from)
- Relative time (e.g., “2 hours ago”)
Payments Tab
All payments through this smart link with pagination:- Customer name
- Payment date and time
- Invoice number (if applicable)
- Amount paid
- Payment status badge
Reminders Tab
Reminder status and history: Settings Summary:- Frequency (Daily, Every 2 days, etc.)
- Sent count vs. limit (e.g., “1 / 3”)
- Remaining reminders
- Sent reminders with timestamp
- Scheduled reminders showing “Upcoming” status
- Tab-based organization for easy navigation
- Pagination for large datasets
- All events sorted by date (newest first)
- Different colored icons for quick identification
- Amount displayed for payment events
- Status badges for each activity type
Managing Smart Links
Editing Smart Links
Click Edit on any smart link to modify: Editable after creation:- Path (URL slug)
- Description
- Internal notes (private)
- Tags
- After-payment redirect URL
- Active/inactive status
- Type (product vs amount)
- The smart link will keep its analytics history
Duplicating Links
Create a copy of an existing smart link:- Click the … menu on any link
- Select Duplicate
- Modify the duplicated link as needed
- Create similar campaigns for different time periods
- Test different amounts with same description
- Duplicate successful campaigns
Deactivating Links
Toggle a smart link active/inactive: When inactive:- URL returns 404 error
- Link no longer accepts payments
- Analytics history is preserved
- Can be reactivated anytime
- End limited-time campaigns
- Pause seasonal promotions
- Disable outdated links
QR Code Integration
Every smart link automatically generates a QR code.Downloading QR Codes
- Open smart link detail page
- Right-click QR code image
- Save image (200x200px PNG)
QR Code Best Practices
Print Quality:- Use vector format for large prints
- Minimum size: 2cm × 2cm
- Ensure high contrast (black on white)
- Business cards
- Flyers and posters
- Table tents
- Product packaging
- Email signatures
- Invoice footers
After-Payment Actions
Configure what happens after customers complete payment. Smart Links support three types of after-payment actions that can be combined:1. Redirect Option
Setting Location: Smart Link Edit → After Payment Actions → Redirect Action Redirect URL: Enter a full URL to redirect customers after successful payment. Common redirect destinations:- Thank you page:
https://yourdomain.com/thank-you - Discount code page:
https://yourdomain.com/special-offer - Download link:
https://yourdomain.com/download/guide.pdf - Member portal:
https://yourdomain.com/welcome
2. Apply Tag to Customer
Automatically add a tag to the customer when they complete payment through this smart link. Setting Location: Smart Link Create/Edit → After Payment Actions → Apply Tag to Customer- Select a customer to send the smart link to
- Choose a Customer-type tag from the “Apply Tag to Customer” dropdown
- When the customer completes payment, the tag is automatically added to their profile
| Scenario | Tag to Apply | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Promotion payment | ”2025 Promo Buyer” | Track who bought via promotions |
| VIP upgrade offer | ”VIP Customer” | Auto-upgrade customer status |
| Loyalty program | ”Loyalty Member” | Enroll in loyalty program |
| Course purchase | ”Course Participant” | Grant course access |
| Event registration | ”Event Attendee 2025” | Track event participants |
3. Remove Tag from Customer
Automatically remove a tag from the customer when they complete payment. The dropdown shows only tags that the customer currently has. Setting Location: Smart Link Create/Edit → After Payment Actions → Remove Tag from Customer- Tags the customer currently has
- Plus: any tag selected in “Apply Tag” (since it will be added)
- Select a customer to send the smart link to
- Choose a tag from “Remove Tag from Customer” (shows only customer’s existing tags)
- When payment completes, the tag is automatically removed from their profile
| Scenario | Tag to Remove | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Payment reminder | ”Overdue Payment” | Clear overdue status |
| Trial conversion | ”Trial User” | Remove trial status |
| Upgrade payment | ”Basic Plan” | Remove old plan tag |
| Renewal | ”Renewal Due” | Clear renewal reminder |
| Debt collection | ”Payment Pending” | Mark as paid |
Combining All Three Actions
You can use all three after-payment actions together for powerful automation: Complete Example:Tags and Organization
Organize smart links using the tag system. Smart Links support two types of tags:- Smart Link Tags: Organize your smart links by campaign, channel, or purpose
- Customer Tags: Automatically applied/removed from customers after payment (see After-Payment Actions)
Creating Tags Inline
When creating or editing a smart link, you can create new tags directly without leaving the form:- Scroll to the Smart Link Tags section
- Click Create New Tag
- Enter a tag name
- Select a color from the color picker
- Click Create Tag
Managing Tags on Smart Links
From the smart link detail page:- Click the pencil icon next to “Tags” in the sidebar
- The tag management modal opens
- Select or deselect tags using the searchable dropdown
- Create new tags inline if needed
- Click Save Tags
Tag Use Cases
By Campaign:- “Summer 2025”
- “Black Friday”
- “Newsletter Campaign”
- “Social Media”
- “Email”
- “Print Materials”
- “Donations”
- “Event Tickets”
- “Product Sales”
Filtering by Tags
In the Smart Links list:- Click Tag Filter dropdown
- Select one or more tags
- View only matching smart links
Technical Details
URL Routing
Smart links use intelligent routing:- Amount routes match numeric values:
/[handle]/12.50 - Smart link routes match alphabetic paths:
/[handle]/campaign-name - Default payment page:
/[handle]
Payment Page Customization
When accessed via smart link, the payment page shows: Custom Content:- Title: Smart link name (instead of payment page title)
- Description: Smart link description (instead of default)
- Amount: Pre-filled and disabled (amount links only)
- Minimum/maximum amount text
- Amount field editing (for amount links)
Session Tracking
Smart links use session-based tracking: Data stored:- Smart link ID
- Link name and description
- Fixed amount (for amount links)
- Original path
- Session persists through checkout
- Payment webhook links transaction to smart link
- Analytics update automatically
Advanced Integration
Email Campaign Integration
Include smart links in marketing emails:- Track email campaign conversion
- Shorter, cleaner URLs than dynamic links
- Professional branding
Social Media Campaigns
Share smart links on social platforms: Twitter/X:Website Integration
Embed smart links on your website: Button example:Security Best Practices
✅ Do’s
- Use descriptive paths that indicate the purpose
- Monitor analytics for unusual activity
- Deactivate old campaigns to prevent confusion
- Test links before launching campaigns
- Use tags to track campaign performance
- Set after-payment redirects for better customer experience
❌ Don’ts
- Don’t use paths that could be guessed (avoid “test”, “temp”)
- Don’t share inactive links (they’ll return 404)
- Don’t change paths during active campaigns (breaks existing shares)
- Don’t delete links with important analytics history
- Don’t use generic names like “link1”, “payment2”
Troubleshooting
Smart Link Returns 404
Causes:- Link is inactive (check status badge)
- Path was changed recently
- Business handle doesn’t match
- Link was deleted
- Verify link is Active in smart links list
- Check path spelling (case-sensitive)
- Confirm business handle in Settings → Payment Page
Analytics Not Updating
Check:- Payment completed successfully (check Transactions)
- Customer paid within same session (session timeout = 2 hours)
- Smart link ID appears in transaction details
QR Code Not Scanning
Fixes:- Increase QR code size (minimum 2cm × 2cm for print)
- Ensure high contrast (black QR on white background)
- Test with multiple QR scanner apps
- Regenerate QR code if image is corrupted
Wrong Amount Showing
For Amount Links:- Amount is fixed based on smart link configuration
- Edit smart link to change amount
- Clear browser cache and revisit URL
Payment Page Shows Wrong Title
Cause: Session data not loading correctly Fix:- Clear browser cookies
- Open link in incognito/private mode
- Verify smart link description is set
Examples Library
Donation Campaign
Event Ticket
Product Promotion
Service Deposit
Limited Workshop with SMS Delivery
- Email: Professional branded invitation with link
- SMS: “Hi John, your photography workshop link: payrequest.me/studio/photo-workshop-march”
- Delivery: Email + SMS badges
- Sent at: Mar 1, 2025 10:30 AM
- Remaining: 15 of 20 payments left
- Analytics: 45 views, 5 payments, 11% conversion
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Smart Links and Dynamic Payment Links?
What's the difference between Smart Links and Dynamic Payment Links?
Can I change the smart link path after creation?
Can I change the smart link path after creation?
How long are analytics stored?
How long are analytics stored?
Can I use custom domains with Smart Links?
Can I use custom domains with Smart Links?
payrequest.me domain with your business handle. Custom domain support for smart links is planned for a future update.What happens if I delete a smart link?
What happens if I delete a smart link?
Can customers change the amount in amount-based smart links?
Can customers change the amount in amount-based smart links?
How do payment limits work?
How do payment limits work?
- One-time: Link disables after first payment
- Multiple: Set custom limit (1-1000), link disables when reached
- Unlimited: Default, accepts infinite payments
Can I send smart links via SMS?
Can I send smart links via SMS?
- Email only
- SMS only (requires valid phone number with country code)
- Both email and SMS
What happens when a payment limit is reached?
What happens when a payment limit is reached?
- Link automatically becomes inactive
- Customers see “Payment limit reached” error message
- No more payments can be accepted
- Analytics show “Limit reached” badge in red
- You can reactivate by editing the link and increasing the limit
Can I change the payment limit after creating a smart link?
Can I change the payment limit after creating a smart link?
- Change from unlimited to limited (or vice versa)
- Increase or decrease the limit number
- Switch between one-time and multiple payments
How do customer tag actions work?
How do customer tag actions work?
- Apply Tag to Customer: Adds a Customer-type tag to the customer’s profile after payment
- Remove Tag from Customer: Removes an existing tag from the customer after payment
Why don't I see the Apply/Remove Tag options?
Why don't I see the Apply/Remove Tag options?
- Select a customer in “Send smart payment link to customer”
- The tag dropdowns then become visible
Why doesn't the Remove Tag dropdown show all customer tags?
Why doesn't the Remove Tag dropdown show all customer tags?
Can I create tags while creating a smart link?
Can I create tags while creating a smart link?
How do payment reminders work?
How do payment reminders work?
- Enable reminders when sending a smart link to a customer
- Choose frequency: Daily, Every 2 days, Every 3 days, Weekly, or Monthly
- Set maximum reminders (1-50)
- Reminders are sent via the same method(s) as the original link (Email/SMS)
Can I change reminder settings after creating a smart link?
Can I change reminder settings after creating a smart link?
- Enable or disable reminders
- Change the frequency
- Adjust the maximum reminder count
Why don't I see the reminder options?
Why don't I see the reminder options?
- You select a customer in “Send smart payment link to customer”
- You select at least one delivery method (Email or SMS)
What happens to reminders when a customer pays?
What happens to reminders when a customer pays?
- All scheduled reminders are automatically cancelled
- No more reminders will be sent
- The reminder status shows as complete
What information is tracked for each view?
What information is tracked for each view?
- Timestamp: Exact date and time of the visit
- IP Address: Visitor’s IP (automatically masked for privacy: last octet hidden)
- Browser/OS: Detected from user agent (e.g., “Chrome / Windows”, “Safari / iOS”)
- Referer: The URL the visitor came from (if available)
How do the activity tabs work?
How do the activity tabs work?
- All: Combined view of all activity types (views, payments, reminders, sent events)
- Views: Paginated list of all detailed view records with IP, browser, and timestamp
- Payments: Paginated list of all payments with customer name, amount, and status
- Reminders: Reminder settings summary and sent/scheduled reminder events