How do I publish my files?

This guide walks you through how to publish files or folders online in Orangedox using the Publish app.

You’ll learn how to open the Orangedox Publish app, which allows you to connect your Google Drive or Dropbox to Orangedox so you can quickly create public traceable links for marketing documents, info images, audio podcasts or product videos.

Select the Publish AppTo get started, go to the Published Files app in your Orangedox dashboard, select Publish File, and choose Web Publish.

This opens the publishing flow where you’ll choose the content you want to publish and generate a public link you can share online.

Choose Web Publish

Start by selecting the Web Publish option.This allows you to create a public-facing link for the file or folder you want to share. It’s a simple way to make content accessible online while still managing it from Orangedox.

If you want to capture visitor details before they access the content, you can also enable Lead Capture during this step. Lead Capture works within the same publishing flow. 

Add a Reference Title

Enter a reference title for the published file or folder.

This title is for internal reference only, so it won’t be shown to your audience. It’s best to make it specific so you can easily identify the published item later, for example “Website Brochure,” “Press Kit,” or “Podcast Assets”.

Note: This title is for internal reference only.

Select the Files or Folders you want to Publish

Next, choose the files you want to publish.Orangedox pulls content directly from your connected Google Drive or Dropbox account, so there’s no need to upload anything manually. You can publish a single file, a package of multiple files, or an entire folder depending on how you want to share your content.

Share your Published Link

Once your content is ready, click Copy to copy the published link and share it with your audience.

You can use this link anywhere you want to distribute content, including email campaigns, websites, social posts, or direct messages.

Because the content is connected to your cloud storage, Orangedox will continue syncing changes you make even after publishing.

How syncing works

Orangedox creates the public link from your selected Google Drive or Dropbox content, rather than requiring you to upload and host files separately.

This means:

1. You can publish directly from your existing cloud storage.
2. There is no separate upload step.
3. Any updates made to the source content can remain synced after publishing.

This is especially useful if you regularly update brochures, media kits, sales collateral, or creative assets and want your published content to stay current without recreating the link each time.

*Note that Orangedox does not change any security permissions of your Google Drive or Dropbox

How do I get the URL of a published file?

If you need to copy the published URL again later, open the published item from your Published Files list by clicking its title.From there, click the url to copy it and share as needed. 

Gating Published Files with Lead Capture

When you publish a file with Lead Capture enabled, Orangedox can collect visitor emails before granting access to the published content.

This allows you to share the same published file or folder while also capturing lead information from people who view it. 

You can use this option when you want to combine content sharing with lead generation, such as for marketing assets, sales materials, or other documents.

Best Practices

To ensure your published content is easy to manage and professional to share, consider the following best practices

Use clear reference titles

Choose titles that help you quickly identify each published item later, especially if you manage multiple links.

Keep source folders organized

If you’re publishing a folder, make sure the files inside it are structured clearly so your audience can find what they need easily.

Double-check what you’re publishing

Before copying the link, confirm you’ve selected the correct file or folder and that it contains the intended content.

Keep your content updated

Since Orangedox works with your connected cloud storage, updating the source file or folder helps keep your published content accurate and current.

Review before sharing

It’s always a good idea to open the published link yourself first to make sure everything appears as expected.

Summary

Publishing files or folders for online viewership using Orangedox is simple and easy and since your published content is connected to your cloud storage you don’t need to manually re-upload files when your content changes.