Contributors open your link in a browser and record a short video. They do not need an Oktopost account. This article explains what they see, and when a recording becomes available to you.
Create the link first. See Creating a Testimonial Request.
What the contributor does
Welcome
The page shows your logo, the welcome title, and the welcome description when you added one.
The contributor enters their name and email. Both are required. If you turned on consent, they must select the consent checkbox before Next is available. This step does not ask for the camera or microphone yet.
Recording
The page shows your logo, the recording title, and the message prompt when you added one. It also shows the maximum length you set.
- Choose a camera and microphone. On a phone, the page offers a front and back camera switch and uses the device's default microphone.
- Click Turn On Camera and allow the browser to use the camera and microphone.
- Click Start Recording. The button changes to Stop Recording.
- Stop the recording, or let it stop when it reaches the maximum length.
- Play the recording. Click Record Again to discard it and record a new one, or click Submit.
Turn On Camera appears when the browser still needs permission. If permission was already granted, the live preview appears immediately.
If the camera or microphone is blocked, or the selected device is unavailable, the page shows an error. The contributor can try again or choose another device.
Submit stays unavailable until there is a recording to send. Back returns to the welcome step and keeps the name and email.
The recording stays in the browser while the contributor reviews it. It is not uploaded, and you cannot see it, until they click Submit.
Thank you
After a successful submission, the contributor sees your thank-you title and message. The page has no recording controls. That visit is finished. They cannot send another recording without opening the link again.
When the link does not accept a recording
| Situation | What the contributor sees |
|---|---|
| Expired or stopped | This recording link is no longer active. The person who invited you is no longer collecting recordings. Reach out to them if you need help. |
| The recording limit is reached | All recordings have been collected. Thanks for your willingness to share your experience. Enough recordings have already been submitted, so this link is now closed. |
Oktopost checks the link again when the contributor clicks Submit. If the request closed while they were recording, the page keeps the recording on their device and explains why it was not accepted. A lost connection shows "You're offline. Check your internet connection and try again." They can submit that same recording after the connection returns, as long as they stay on the page.
If the contributor refreshes or leaves the page before the upload finishes, the recording on their device may be lost. A failed upload does not count toward the recording limit.
Only one submission is accepted for the last open spot. Other contributors who try to submit at the same time see the message that all recordings have been collected.
After the recording is submitted
The recording appears on the testimonial after upload and processing finish. You then receive an email with the subject "New testimonial recording received," followed by the testimonial name. View recording opens that recording.
The contributor can open the link again and submit another recording while the request is Collecting and under the limit. Each submission is saved as its own recording, even when it comes from the same email address. The recording page does not say whether that email was used before.
To add the finished recording to a project or the Media Library, see Adding Testimonial Recordings.