The Link-Sharing Hack I Swear By in Dubsado

If you’re constantly copying and pasting links into emails in Dubsado… this one’s for you.

There’s a better, cleaner, faster way — and it all comes down to one of my favorite features: custom mapped smart fields. These little gems help me automate link sharing for every project without me having to touch a single email.

Here’s how it works (and how you can use it in your own setup 👇).

🧠 First: What Are Custom Mapped Smart Fields?

Custom mapped fields are exactly what they sound like — fields you create in your Dubsado project settings that are tied to your client’s project, not just their contact info.

Unlike the built-in smart fields (like {{client.firstName}}), these are fields you define — and they’re GOLD for things like:

  • Project-specific links
  • Folder URLs
  • Form review tools (like MarkUp)
  • Shared Google Docs
  • Content portals
  • Anything else you need your client to access regularly

🛠 How I Use Them in My Setup Services

During a full Dubsado setup, I’m usually working in:

  • A shared Google Doc to plan the client journey
  • A MarkUp link for form reviews and feedback

Rather than dropping those links manually into emails each time I need to share them, I create custom smart fields in the project setup like this:

  • Client Journey Google Doc
  • Form Review Link

Then, I input those URLs once at the beginning of the project.

💌 How the Magic Happens in Emails

Once those fields are set, I reference them in my canned emails using a button, — but instead of a URL, I input the smart field as where the button goes.

Now, whenever this email is sent through a workflow, that button automatically pulls the correct link from the project — no edits needed, no forgotten attachments, no frantic last-minute copy/pasting.

⚡ Why This Hack Works So Well

  • It saves time — I input once, and reuse endlessly
  • It reduces errors — No more sending the wrong link or forgetting to update a template
  • It’s client-friendly — Clickable buttons look polished and are easy to access
  • It scales beautifully — Whether you have 5 clients or 50, the experience stays consistent

🚀 How to Set It Up in Your Own System

Here’s a quick step-by-step:

  1. Go to Settings > Custom Mapped Fields in Dubsado
  2. Create a new Project Field (not a client field!)
    • Example: “Google Drive Link” (The “type” should be “Short Answer”)
  3. Once created, this smart field will be available in all new projects under the “Custom Mapped Project Fields” section of the client details.
  4. Within your canned email template, insert a button and set the URL to the smart field token (it will look something like  {{job.mappedFields.client_journey_link.value}} but “client_journey_link” will be replaced with whatever you named your smart field).

Setup + How To, Strategy + Planning