How to see if a client opened your contract

A freelancer sends a statement of work on Tuesday and hears nothing by Friday. An agency sends a renewal two weeks before the old contract lapses. A landlord sends a tenancy agreement to a new tenant. Each of them needs to know whether the contract has been opened, because a client who hasn’t seen it needs a different message from one who read it twice and went quiet.

This guide covers how people usually send contracts and check on them, what each approach tells you, and how to send a contract from Fabric as a link named after the client, so the visits on that link show whether it’s been opened before you decide how to follow up.

How people usually send contracts and check on them

E-signature platforms such as DocuSign and Adobe Acrobat Sign are the standard choice when a signature is needed. They show whether the recipient has viewed and signed the document, and many clients are familiar with them. They also come with a subscription and a per-envelope workflow that can feel heavy for a two-page statement of work or an early draft still under discussion.

Many freelancers simply attach a PDF to an email. It’s familiar and costs nothing. A read receipt, if the client agrees to send one, only confirms the email was opened, so the usual next step is a polite message asking whether they had a chance to look.

Some people share the contract from Google Drive or Dropbox so they can update it during negotiation. That keeps a single version, though a link sent to the client’s whole team doesn’t tell you which of them has read it.

Step 1: Add the contract to the client’s folder

Keep each client’s documents together: drag the contract into their folder in Fabric, or click Upload a file. If you work with clients on an ongoing basis, a space per client keeps their files separate, and you can share that space with them later. How to give a client access to only their files explains that setup.

Fabric handles delivery and visit tracking. The signature itself happens in whatever process you already use, whether that’s an e-signature tool or a signed copy returned by email.

Step 2: Publish a link named after the client

Click Share to open the share modal, open the Publish tab and click Create link. Name the link after the client and the document (Jordan Lee, SOW March) and turn on collect engagement analytics. If the contract goes to two people, such as the client and their finance contact, create a link for each. Publish links each keep their own settings and visit record.

Analytics record visits per link and don’t name the visitor, so the link’s name is what ties a visit to the client. How to send a different tracking link to each recipient goes into more detail. Link analytics are on the Pro and Team plans.

Step 3: Set downloads and add a password

Turn on allow downloads when the client needs to sign and return the file, or leave it off for a draft you only want them to read. Turn off allow indexing by search engines. For contracts with rates, personal details or confidential terms, add a password on Pro or Team: right-click the contract, choose Add password protection and enter one. Password protection has no reset, so store it in a password manager and send it to the client separately.

Step 4: Check the visits before you follow up

The link has its own chart of traffic over time, with the date of each visit and the location and device of each visitor. Link analytics make the follow-up easier to judge. No visits after three days usually means the email was missed, and a short note with the link again is enough. Several visits from different devices often means the contract is being read carefully or passed to someone else for review, which calls for a message offering to answer questions.

During negotiation, share the contract with the client as a commenter instead. They can highlight clauses and add comments, and you can mark each comment completed once it’s resolved. The annotations page shows how that works on documents and PDFs.

Step 5: File the signed copy

When the signed contract comes back as an email attachment, forward it to your Fabric email address so it lands next to the draft. Search reads the text inside PDFs, so you can find a clause later by describing it.

To check a detail across contracts, open the client’s folder and ask the AI assistant, for example about the notice period or payment terms. It answers from that folder and cites the documents it used, so you can read the clause yourself. Interpretation of the terms remains a matter for you and, where needed, your lawyer.

Over time, the client’s folder becomes a record of the relationship: proposals, contracts, signed copies and the notes from each call. Working with clients has broader advice on running client work from one place.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if a client has opened my contract?

Send it as a published Fabric link named after the client, with collect engagement analytics on. Visits to that link show the date, location and device.

Can Fabric collect signatures?

Fabric handles sending the contract and tracking visits. Use your usual e-signature tool or signed copy for the signature, then file the signed version in Fabric.

Can the client download the contract to sign it?

Yes, if you turn on allow downloads for their link. The download option is available on every plan.

What should I do if my client hasn’t opened the contract?

If their link shows no visits after a few days, the email may have been missed or filtered. Resend the link with a short note, or check you have the right contact before following up again.

Does the client need a Fabric account?

No. Published links open in a browser.

Can I update the contract after sending it?

Editing the source in Fabric updates the published version, so the client’s link shows the latest draft.

How do I keep a contract confidential?

Add password protection on Pro or Team, turn off search engine indexing on the link, and send the password separately from the link.

Can the client comment on specific clauses?

Yes. Share it with commenter permission, and they can highlight a clause and attach a comment, which you mark completed once it’s agreed.

Is contract tracking on the free plan?

Publishing is on every plan; link analytics and password protection need Pro or Team. See pricing.