Definition
What is a Talking Link?
The short answer, the long answer, and where it fits.
Talk·ing Link
noun · plural Talking Links
1.A Talking Link is a shareable link that asks a question, lets people reply by voice or text, asks a follow-up when something important is missing, and turns each reply into an organised record.
See also: voice form, client intake form
A Talking Link in one sentence
You send one link. People open it and answer in whichever way is easier. You get organised answers instead of a pile of voice notes, messages and form fields.
Illustrative example · a dog walker’s new clients
How a Talking Link works
1 Create
What would you like people to tell you?
“New clients: tell me about your dog, the days you need walks, and anything I should know.”
What we understood · review before publishing
- About the dog
- Days and times
- Walk length
- Anything to know
Say or type what you want to know. You check what Talking Links understood before the link goes live.
2 Share
tlk.so/t/dog-walking
- Website
- QR code from any generator
Send one link anywhere a link works. People open it in their browser.
3 Reply
Tell me about your dog and the walks you need.
Voice · 0:34“She’s Luna, a two-year-old spaniel. Really friendly, but she pulls on the lead. I need walks on Mondays and Wednesdays around lunchtime, and she’s not great with big dogs.”
Talking Links asksHow long would you like each walk to be?
Their answerAbout an hour, if that works.
They speak or type. One short follow-up fills the gap, then they check the details and send.
4 Review
Organised record · new client
- Dog
- Luna, two-year-old spaniel
- Walks
- Mondays and Wednesdays, lunchtime
- Length
- About an hourFrom follow-up
- Good to know
- Pulls on the lead; nervous around big dogs
Each reply arrives as its own organised record, with their own words beside it.
Compared
A Talking Link compared with a form or a voice note
| Aspect | Form | Talking Link |
|---|---|---|
| How people answer | Fill in fixed fields | Speak or type, in their own words |
| If an answer is vague | You get the vague answer | A short follow-up is asked |
| What you receive | Fields exactly as designed | An organised record, with their own words beside it |
| Best for | Exact data: dates, choices, numbers | Explanations, context, enquiries, feedback |
Compared with a voice note
A voice note is quick to send and slow to use: you listen, remember and sort it yourself. A Talking Link keeps the ease of speaking, then does the sorting. Each reply is organised, with the person’s own words beside it if you want to check.
Where it fits
When to use a Talking Link
Limits
What a Talking Link is not
Not a phone call or a live chat
People reply when it suits them.
Not an interrogation
Follow-ups are few and capped for each link, and people can skip them.
Not a sign-up
People replying don’t need a Talking Links account or a paid subscription.
Not a replacement for every form
When you need exact data, such as a date or a choice from a fixed list, a form is still the right tool.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Do the people replying need an account?
No. They open the link in their browser and answer, without an account or a paid subscription.
Can people reply in their own language?
Yes. People can answer in the language that feels natural to them. You see their original words, and any translation is shown separately and labelled as a machine translation.
Can I reuse a link?
Yes. Pause responses when you have enough and reactivate the same link later. Pausing doesn’t delete the replies you already have.
What happens to what people say?
Talking Links is still in development. Before public conversation features launch, the exact rules for processing, storing, keeping and deleting replies will be published in our Privacy policy.
Early access
Get early access
Talking Links is opening to a small number of creators first. Join the early-access list and we’ll let you know when you can try it.