Send new download links after updating a product
When you publish a second edition, add a bonus file, or fix a mistake, past buyers have no way of knowing. Notify all previous buyers emails everyone who bought that product with a fresh download link.
Before you begin
- Update the files first. Replace the existing file so old links keep working and everyone gets the new version. See Replace a file.
- This emails every past buyer of the product. On a product with thousands of sales, that is a large send, and it cannot be undone.
Set it up
- Click Filemonk in the left menu of your Shopify admin.
- Click Digital products in the app's menu and open the product.
- Choose Notify buyers.
- Edit the Subject and Body for this send. It uses the same template as the original download email, so you are adjusting the wording, not rebuilding the design.
- Use the available variables rather than typing them: order name, order ID, store name, and customer name.
- Send.
A Notification sent message confirms it.
What customers will see
An email in your usual download design, with your subject and message, and a working link to their files. Nothing changes about their limits or access.
Write it well
Say what changed and why it matters, in the first line. "Version 2 of the handbook is ready, with the new tax tables" is worth sending. "Your files have been updated" makes people wonder whether it is spam.
To change the default wording for future sends, edit the 'Notify buyers' template under Settings. That sets the starting subject and body each time.
Check your setup
Place a test order for the product first, then run the notification. You receive the email as a buyer and can confirm the link works and the wording reads properly. See Create a test order.
Troubleshooting
Customers say the file is unchanged
You uploaded a new file rather than replacing the old one, so the product still delivers the original. Check the product's files, then replace properly. See Replace a file.
Some buyers didn't receive it
Orders with no email address cannot be notified, and orders that never reached Filemonk are not included. See Send download links for orders without an email.
A variable appeared as text in the email
It was typed by hand and does not match. Use the variables list so the exact form is inserted.
I sent it by mistake
Sent email cannot be recalled. If the content was wrong, send a short follow-up rather than leaving customers confused.
Customers hit their download limit on the new version
Their allowance was already used on the old file. Reset the limit on affected orders. See Reset download limits for an order.
FAQ
Does it go to every buyer of the product?
Yes, everyone who bought it and has an order in Filemonk with an email address. There is no way to notify a subset from here.
Do I have to notify people when I update a file?
No. Replacing a file works silently, and customers get the new version next time they download. Notify when the change is worth their attention.
Can I change the default wording?
Yes, in the 'Notify buyers' template in Settings, which sets the starting subject and body for every send.
Does it reset download limits?
No. If customers need to download again and are out, reset those orders. See Reset download limits for an order.
Related guides
- Replace a file, which should happen first.
- Reset download limits for an order, for buyers who have run out.
- Customize the email template, for the design this uses.
