Creating and Sharing Payment Links
Payment links let you request payment from anyone — without them needing to browse your store. Just create a link, share it, and get paid. Perfect for custom orders, invoices, deposits, and quick sales.
To get started, click Payment Links in your sidebar menu.
What Are Payment Links?
A payment link is a unique URL that takes your customer directly to a payment page. When they open it, they see:
- Your store branding (name, logo, colors)
- The items they're paying for
- A secure payment form powered by Paystack
No sign-up required for your customers — they just click, pay, and you're done.
Common Use Cases
- Custom orders — A customer messages you on WhatsApp asking for a specific item
- Invoices — Send a professional payment request for services or bulk orders
- Deposits — Collect a partial payment upfront before fulfilling an order
- Quick sales — Sell something fast without adding it to your store catalog
- Repeat orders — Quickly create a link for a returning customer's usual order
- Bulk orders — Send a single link for multiple items at custom quantities
Two Creation Modes
When creating a payment link, you choose between two modes:
From Catalog
Select products directly from your store inventory.
- Browse and search your existing products
- Product images, names, and prices are pulled automatically
- Adjust quantities as needed
- Great when selling products you already have listed
Custom Order
Manually enter items with custom names and prices.
- Type any item name
- Set any price
- Add as many items as you want
- Perfect for custom work, services, or items not in your catalog
Creating a Payment Link
Step 1: Choose Your Mode
Click Create Payment Link and select either From Catalog or Custom Order.
Step 2: Add Items
From Catalog:
- Search for a product by name
- Click to add it
- Adjust the quantity
- Repeat for additional items
Custom Order:
- Enter the item name
- Set the price
- Set the quantity
- Click Add Item
- Repeat for additional items
Step 3: Add Customer Details (Optional)
Pre-fill your customer's information so they don't have to type it:
- Customer Name
- Email Address
- Phone Number
If you leave these blank, the customer will enter their details when they open the link.
Step 4: Configure Settings
- Require Delivery Address — Toggle this on if you need to ship something. The customer will be asked for their full address.
- Notes — Add any notes the customer should see (e.g., "Custom embroidery order — please allow 5 business days for delivery").
Step 5: Set Expiry
Choose when the link should expire:
| Option | Best For |
|---|---|
| 7 days | Urgent orders or time-sensitive sales |
| 14 days | Standard custom orders |
| 30 days | Invoices or non-urgent payments |
| Never | Standing orders or ongoing services |
After expiry, the link becomes inactive and customers see a message that the link has expired.
Step 6: Create and Share
Click Create Payment Link. You'll see a success screen with options to share immediately.
Sharing Payment Links
Once created, you can share your payment link in several ways:
Copy Link
Click Copy Link to copy the URL to your clipboard. Paste it anywhere — WhatsApp, SMS, email, social media, or direct messages.
Share on WhatsApp
Click the WhatsApp button to open WhatsApp with the payment link ready to send. Just select the customer and hit send.
Open in Browser
Click Open in Browser to preview what your customer will see.
Your payment link URL looks like: yourstore.strawlo.com/pay/XXXXXXXXXX
What Your Customer Sees
When a customer opens your payment link, they see a clean, branded payment page with:
- Your store name and logo at the top
- Items list with names, quantities, and prices
- Notes from you (if you added any)
- Customer form — Name, email, and phone (pre-filled if you provided them)
- Delivery address form (if you enabled it)
- Payment method selection — Mobile Money or Card
- Total amount clearly displayed
- Pay button to complete the transaction
- "Secured by Paystack" badge for trust
After payment, the customer sees a success page with their payment reference number and a confirmation that their order will be processed.
Payment Link Statuses
Each payment link has a status that updates automatically:
| Status | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Pending | Link is active and waiting for payment |
| Paid | Customer has completed payment |
| Expired | Link passed its expiry date without payment |
| Cancelled | You cancelled the link manually |
Filtering by Status
On the Payment Links page, use the status filter to quickly find links:
- All — See everything
- Pending — Links waiting for payment
- Paid — Completed payments
- Expired — Past-due links
- Cancelled — Links you've cancelled
Managing Payment Links
Editing a Link
You can edit a payment link as long as it's still Pending:
- Find the link on your Payment Links page
- Click the Edit button
- Update customer details, items, or expiry
- Save your changes
Note: You cannot edit links that are already paid, expired, or cancelled.
Cancelling a Link
If you no longer need a payment link:
- Find the link on your Payment Links page
- Click Cancel (or swipe left on mobile)
- Confirm the cancellation
The link becomes inactive immediately. If a customer tries to open a cancelled link, they'll see a message that it's no longer available.
Deleting a Link
You can permanently delete cancelled or expired links to clean up your list. Paid links cannot be deleted — they're part of your order history.
Creating Payment Links from Orders
If you have an existing order that hasn't been paid (like a Pay-on-Delivery order), you can generate a payment link for it:
- Go to the order's detail page
- Click Send Payment Link
- A payment link is automatically created with the order's items and customer details
- Share the link with your customer
This is useful for:
- Following up on unpaid orders
- Giving POD customers the option to pay online instead
- Resending payment requests when the original payment failed
If a payment link already exists for an order, Strawlo will show you the existing one instead of creating a duplicate.
Payment Links on Mobile
The Strawlo mobile app has full payment link support:
- View all payment links with status filtering
- Stats cards showing total, paid, and pending counts
- Quick actions — copy link, share on WhatsApp, open in browser
- Swipe to cancel or delete links
- Create and edit payment links directly from your phone
Everything stays in sync between the web dashboard and mobile app.
What Happens After Payment
When a customer pays through a payment link:
- Order is created automatically in your Orders dashboard
- Payment status is set to Paid
- You receive a notification (in-app + email if enabled)
- Customer receives an order confirmation email
- The payment link status changes to Paid
- If delivery address was collected, it's attached to the order
From there, you fulfill the order just like any other — mark as dispatched, add a tracking number, and mark as delivered.
Quick Tips
1. Pre-fill Customer Details
When you know who you're sending the link to, fill in their name and email. It saves them time and reduces errors.
2. Add Clear Notes
Include details about what the customer is paying for, estimated delivery time, or any special instructions.
3. Set Appropriate Expiry
Use shorter expiry times for urgent orders to create a sense of urgency. Use "Never" for standing payment links you share repeatedly.
4. Share via WhatsApp
Most of your customers are on WhatsApp. The built-in WhatsApp sharing makes it quick and easy.
5. Use Catalog Mode for Listed Products
If you're selling products that are already in your store, use Catalog mode. It pulls in product images and correct pricing automatically.
6. Use Custom Mode for Everything Else
Services, custom work, deposits, or one-off items — Custom mode gives you full flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a payment link be used more than once?
No. Each payment link is for a single payment. Once paid, the link is marked as completed. Create a new link for each transaction.
What payment methods can customers use?
Customers can pay with debit/credit cards or mobile money (where available), just like regular store purchases.
Do payment link orders show up in my Orders dashboard?
Yes! When a customer pays through a payment link, an order is automatically created in your Orders section with all the details.
Can I create a payment link without adding items?
No. Every payment link needs at least one item with a name, quantity, and price.
What happens if a payment link expires?
The link becomes inactive. Customers who try to open it will see an "expired" message. You can create a new link if needed.
Are there any extra fees for payment links?
No. Payment links use the same fee structure as regular store transactions — the Paystack processing fee plus the 1% Strawlo platform fee.
Can my customer pay with Pay-on-Delivery through a payment link?
No. Payment links are designed for online payments only. If a customer wants to pay on delivery, they should order through your store with POD enabled.
Can I send a payment link to someone who doesn't have a Strawlo account?
Yes! Your customers don't need any account. They just open the link, enter their details, and pay.
Need Help?
If you have questions about payment links:
- Email us — support@strawlo.com
- Join our community — Connect with other sellers in our WhatsApp group
- Watch tutorials — Check out our YouTube channel for video guides