Collage gives you two powerful ways to distribute content externally: Share Links and Brand Portals. Both get assets into the right hands, but they solve different problems. Here's when to use each.
Share Links: Fast, Focused, Flexible
Share Links are direct URLs to specific assets or collections. They're ideal for quick, targeted sharing—sending a batch of campaign images to an agency, sharing product photos with a retailer, or getting assets to a journalist on deadline.
Key characteristics:
- Generate in seconds from any asset or collection
- Set expiration dates and download limits
- Password-protect sensitive content
- Track views and downloads
- No login required for recipients
Brand Portals: Always-On, Self-Service Access
Brand Portals are persistent, branded hubs where external users browse and download approved assets on their own. Think of them as your brand's content storefront—always open, always current.
Key characteristics:
- Branded experience matching your visual identity
- Organized by categories, campaigns, or asset types
- Search and filter capabilities for large libraries
- Permission-controlled visibility
- Automatic updates when you change source assets
When to Use Each
Use Share Links when:
- Sharing specific assets for a one-time need
- Working with tight deadlines
- Sending content to people who don't need ongoing access
- Distributing time-sensitive campaign materials
Use Brand Portals when:
- Partners, retailers, or resellers need regular access to your content
- You want external users to self-serve instead of emailing requests
- Brand consistency across a distributed network matters
- You need a permanent, searchable content hub
Better Together
The real power comes from using both. Brand Portals handle ongoing distribution—your retail network, agency partners, and sales team access what they need anytime. Share Links handle the ad hoc—a press kit for an upcoming launch, campaign assets for a new influencer partnership, or updated product shots for a specific retailer request.
Both tools are available in Collage's Professional plan. Book a demo to see how they work together.
