--- title: How to Use Insta Fetch for Fast Client Requests description: Use Insta Fetch to send a single quick request for one document or answer in seconds. Fill in the form, optionally email the client, and track the reply on the Requests Dashboard. url: "https://seamlss.com.au/help/using-insta-fetch/" updated: "2026-09-13" category: Forms --- # How to Use Insta Fetch for Fast Client Requests Insta Fetch is the fastest way to ask a client a question or request a single document. It skips form templates and gives you a clean, branded request that lands in the client's inbox within seconds. Use it for quick one-off asks like "What's the BSB on your new account?" or "Can you upload your latest payslip?" without setting up a full form or onboarding workflow. ![Seamlss dashboard with the New Request dropdown open showing Client Request, Insta Fetch and Insta Send](https://seamlss.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-7-1024x371.png) Open + New Request from the Dashboard and pick Insta Fetch ## When to use Insta Fetch - You need a single piece of information or a single document, fast. - The contact you're asking already exists in Seamlss. - You don't need a structured form, identity verification or engagement letter attached. - You want the client's reply tracked against their record so nothing falls through the cracks. For larger asks that involve multiple sections, identity verification or engagement letters, use a [Client Request](https://seamlss.com.au/help/how-to-send-a-client-request/) instead. To send files *to* a client (rather than asking them to send something to you), use [Insta Send](https://seamlss.com.au/help/using-instasend-to-quickly-and-securely-send-files/). ## How to send an Insta Fetch ### Step 1. Open the request From anywhere in Seamlss, click the **+ Request** button in the top-right of the header and choose **Insta Fetch** from the dropdown. The Insta Fetch modal opens with the title *Insta Fetch, Information Request*. ![Insta Fetch modal open with the title Information Request ready to fill in](https://seamlss.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-8-1024x897.png) The Insta Fetch modal opens with the title Information Request ### Step 2. Add your contact Under **Add Contact(s)**, start typing the contact's name in the *Enter contact name* search box. Matching contacts appear as you type, click one to add them. The *Selected Contacts* count updates so you can confirm who'll receive the request. You can add more than one contact if you need the same question answered by multiple people. Each contact gets their own request and their answers stay separate. If a contact doesn't exist yet, add them in **Client Management > Contacts** first, then come back and start the Insta Fetch. ### Step 3. Write your question In the **Questions** section, type your question into the *Enter your question* field. Keep it short and specific so the client knows exactly what to send back. Two toggles sit beside the question: - **Required** (on by default), the client must answer before they can submit. - **Upload file(s)** (off by default), switch this on if you want the client to attach a file rather than type a text answer. Click **+ Add Details** below the question to add helper text, e.g. "BSB is the 6 digit number on your bank card." This shows under the question on the client's screen. Need to ask more than one thing? Click **+ Add New Question** to add another row. Drag the handle on the right to reorder, or click the red X to remove. ![Insta Fetch form with a question row and the + Add New Question option](https://seamlss.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-9-1024x886.png) Click + Add New Question to ask more than one thing and drag to reorder ### Step 4. (Optional) Edit the title and intro By default the request is titled *Information Request*. Click **Edit form Title and Description** at the top of the modal to change the title and add a short intro that the client will see at the top of their request. ### Step 5. Set email options Scroll to the **Email options** section. - **Send Email Request to Client** (on by default), tick this to email the client a notification with a button that opens the request in their branded Seamlss portal. - **Optional Message**, type any extra context you want included in the email, e.g. "Hi Sarah, just need this one thing before lodgement on Friday." The email uses the *Comms, Request Information* template by default. ![Send Email Request to Client checkbox and Send Fetch button at the bottom of the Insta Fetch modal](https://seamlss.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-10.png) Send Email Request to Client checkbox and the Send Fetch button **Prefer to send the link yourself?** Untick **Send Email Request to Client**. Seamlss will still create the request, but no email goes out. After clicking Send, head to **Dashboard > All Requests**, click the arrow at the start of the request row to expand it, then click the small **Copy** icon next to the recipient's email address. The client's secure portal link is now on your clipboard, ready to paste into your own email, SMS or chat. ![Close-up of the Copy icon next to a recipient email on an All Requests row](https://seamlss.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-11.png) Copy icon next to the recipient email click to copy the client portal link ### Step 6. Send Click **Send Fetch** in the bottom-right of the modal. The request is created, emailed (if you left that option ticked), and added to the All Requests list with status *Requested*. Not ready to send? Click **Save as Draft** instead. Drafts appear in the Drafts tab on the All Requests list with an Edit button so you can finish them later. ## After you hit send The contact receives a single email from your firm's branded Seamlss portal with one button. They click through, answer the question (or upload the requested file), and submit. As soon as they do, the request status flips to *Actioned* on your dashboard and the response is filed against the contact's record. You can track every Insta Fetch from **Dashboard > All Requests**. Filter by status, expand a row to see who it went to and the per-recipient progress, or click the three-dot Actions menu on the right to edit, duplicate, cancel and archive, or delete the request. ![All Requests dashboard showing an Insta Fetch request with its status and per-recipient progress](https://seamlss.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-12-1024x316.png) The new Insta Fetch appears on the All Requests dashboard ![Three-dot Actions menu on a request showing Edit, Duplicate, Cancel and archive, and Delete](https://seamlss.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image-13-1024x345.png) Three dot Actions menu with Edit Duplicate Cancel or archive and Delete ## Related guides - [How to Send a Client Request](https://seamlss.com.au/help/how-to-send-a-client-request/), for multi-section requests with forms, IDV and engagement letters. - [Using Insta Send](https://seamlss.com.au/help/using-instasend-to-quickly-and-securely-send-files/), for sending files securely to a client. - [Understanding the Requests Dashboard](https://seamlss.com.au/help/understanding-the-requests-dashboard/), how to track and manage every request.