> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.autocampaign.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Join links (text & web form)

> Grow your contact list with text-to-join keywords and hosted web forms, with consent and QR codes.

## Overview

[Join links](/getting-started/glossary#join-link) let people
[opt in](/getting-started/glossary#opt-in) to your messages (agree to receive
them). There are two kinds, both created on the **Join Links** page — open
**CRM → Lead Capture → Signup Forms** in the sidebar (`/links`):

* **Text link** — people text a keyword (your message) to your number to join.
* **Web form** — a public form, hosted for you, that people fill in to join.

Both can add new contacts to a [segment](/contacts/segments) and
[tags](/contacts/tags), record consent, and send a welcome message. Each gets a
shareable web address and a QR code (a square barcode people scan with their phone
camera).

<Info>
  **Time to complete:** \~10 minutes  ·  **Difficulty:** Beginner (text link) / Intermediate (web form)
</Info>

<Note>
  **Related:** for a keyword tied to one number that can add a segment, send a
  welcome message, and start a sequence, see [Join keywords](/growth/join-keywords).
  For multi-question hosted or embedded forms with contact matching and follow-ups,
  see [Lead forms](/growth/lead-forms).
</Note>

## Text link (text-to-join)

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a text link">
    On the **Links → Text Link** tab, click **Create Text Link**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Setup">
    Set the **Link Name** and **Custom Slug** (the last part of the link's web
    address; a suggestion is filled in), and pick the **Sender Phone Number**.
    Then choose an **SMS Template** (a text-link template — the template body is
    the "keyword" people send). You can create a template inline.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Audience">
    Optionally attach a **Segment** and **Tags**, and set an **Auto-Reply** (sent
    immediately) and a **Welcome Message** (sent after).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Preview & save">
    Review the SMS preview and save.
  </Step>
</Steps>

The public page (`/join/<slug>`) opens the visitor's Messages app pre-filled with
your number and the keyword text, plus a QR that does the same. When they send it,
Autocampaign AI creates the contact (source **Text Link**), applies your segment and tags,
records the reply as consent, and sends your welcome message.

## Web form

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a web form">
    On the **Links → Web Form** tab, click **Create Web Form**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Basic info">
    Set the **Link Name**, **Custom Slug**, description, and active status.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Form builder">
    **First Name** and **Phone** are always required. Add **optional fields** (last
    name, email, address parts). Toggle **Require consent checkbox** and set its
    label (default "I agree to receive SMS messages"). Optionally turn on **OTP
    verification** (a one-time code texted to the visitor) to confirm the phone
    number.
  </Step>

  <Step title="After submit">
    Attach **Tags** and set a **Thank You Message** or a **Redirect URL** (a web
    page to send them to; if set, it replaces the thank-you message). Then add a
    **Welcome Message** and pick **brand colors**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Preview & save">
    Review the live form preview and save.
  </Step>
</Steps>

When someone submits, Autocampaign AI checks consent (and the OTP code if turned on)
and creates or updates the contact (source **Web Form**). It adds them to your
segment, applies tags, and sends the welcome message. It also records a **consent
snapshot**: the exact consent text, a scrambled (hashed) copy of their IP address,
their browser details (user agent), and the time. They then see your thank-you
screen or are redirected.

## QR codes

Every join link can generate a **QR code** (from the list row or the detail **QR
Code** tab). Download it as a PNG and track **Total Scans** and **Unique Scans**.
For text links the QR opens Messages pre-filled; for web forms it opens the form.

## Opt-out protection

Autocampaign AI won't re-add an opted-out contact through a join link. If someone who
previously opted out tries to submit (or request an OTP code), the request is
refused. This protects you under TCPA and GDPR (US and EU messaging-consent
laws). See [Opt-out management](/compliance/opt-out).

## Track submissions and scans

Each join link's detail page shows submissions over time, a submissions table
(contact name, phone, email), views, and QR scan stats. The list page summarizes
Total Links, Total Submissions, and Active Links.

## Pause or archive a link

Join links are **Active**, **Inactive**, or **Archived**. Deactivating rejects new
submissions until you reactivate. Archiving (delete) makes the public page show a
"not found" error (404) but keeps existing submissions and contacts.

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What's the 'keyword' for a text link?">
    It's the SMS template body people send. Autocampaign AI matches the incoming
    message against it (an exact match, or a message that contains it), so extra
    typed text still counts.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do web forms verify phone numbers?">
    Optionally — turn on **OTP verification** in the form builder to require a
    6-digit code before submission.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is consent recorded?">
    Yes. When consent is required, Autocampaign AI stores the exact consent wording
    shown, plus a scrambled (hashed) IP address, browser details (user agent), and
    the time, for each submission.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I redirect after submit?">
    Yes — set a **Redirect URL** in the web form's After submit step. It overrides
    the thank-you message.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Why can't someone submit the form?">
    Check the link is **Active**, they ticked the **consent** checkbox (if required),
    and entered the OTP code (if turned on). Opted-out contacts are blocked on
    purpose.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why does someone see 'You're already on the list!'?">
    That contact already submitted this link — duplicates per link are prevented and
    show the already-joined screen.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why didn't the welcome message arrive?">
    Welcome messages are sent when possible but aren't guaranteed, and they skip
    opted-out contacts. Confirm the contact isn't opted out and that your SMS
    channel is connected.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Card title="Manage consent" icon="ban" href="/compliance/opt-out">
  Opt-out and opt-in behavior.
</Card>