# Creating and Managing Tiplines
**Note:** Creating new tiplines is a Premium-only feature. If you have existing tiplines from before, you can still manage them at any tier.
## What is a Tipline?
A tipline is a public-facing page where community members can submit anonymous tips about a case. It's perfect for:
- Cold cases needing fresh leads
- Missing persons cases
- Unidentified remains
- Cases where public assistance is needed
## Creating a Tipline (Premium Only)
### Step 1: Open Your Case
1. Navigate to the case you want to create a tipline for
2. Click on the case to view details
### Step 2: Create Tipline
1. Scroll to the "Actions" section
2. Click the "Create Tipline" button (orange)
- **Free/Basic users**: You'll see a locked button with "Premium" badge
- **Premium users**: Button is fully functional
### Step 3: Configure Your Tipline
Fill in the tipline details:
**Required Information:**
- **Title**: Public-facing title for your tipline
- **Description**: Describe the case and what information you're seeking
- **Contact Instructions**: How tipsters should submit information
**Optional Settings:**
- Anonymous submission (recommended)
- Require email address
- Notification preferences
### Step 4: Publish
1. Review your tipline settings
2. Click "Publish Tipline"
3. Your tipline is now live and publicly accessible
## Managing Existing Tiplines
Even if you're not on Premium, you can manage tiplines you created before:
### View Tipline
1. Go to your case
2. Click "Manage Tipline" (green button)
### Review Tips Submitted
1. Open your tipline management page
2. See all submitted tips in chronological order
3. Tips show:
- Submission date/time
- Tip content
- Contact information (if provided)
- IP address (for abuse prevention)
### Respond to Tips
1. Click on a tip to view details
2. If tipster provided contact info, you can follow up
3. Mark tips as reviewed/followed up
### Edit Tipline
1. Click "Edit Tipline Settings"
2. Update title, description, or settings
3. Save changes (updates are immediate)
### Deactivate Tipline
1. Go to tipline management
2. Click "Deactivate Tipline"
3. Public page becomes unavailable
4. You can reactivate later
## Tipline Best Practices
### Writing Effective Descriptions
**Do:**
- Be specific about what information you need
- Include relevant dates, locations, descriptions
- Explain why this information is important
- Provide context without compromising the investigation
**Don't:**
- Share confidential investigation details
- Include victim names without permission
- Make promises about rewards unless authorized
- Share graphic details that might discourage tips
### Managing Tip Submissions
**Prioritize Tips:**
- Review all tips within 24 hours
- Flag promising leads for investigation
- Respond to tipsters who provided contact info
- Keep detailed records of all tips
**Security Considerations:**
- Monitor for spam or abuse
- Block abusive IP addresses
- Verify credible tips before acting
- Protect tipster anonymity
### Promoting Your Tipline
Share your tipline URL via:
- Social media
- Local news media
- Community bulletin boards
- Law enforcement networks
- Missing persons organizations
## Tipline Analytics
View statistics about your tipline:
- Total tips received
- Tips per week/month
- Most active times
- Geographic distribution (by IP)
## Upgrading to Access Tiplines
If you're on Free or Basic tier:
1. **Keep Existing Tiplines**: Any tiplines you created before tier changes remain accessible
2. **Create New Tiplines**: Requires Premium upgrade
3. **Upgrade Process**:
- Click the locked "Create Tipline" button
- Review Premium features
- Complete payment
- Immediately create new tiplines
## Privacy and Legal Considerations
### Tipster Privacy
- Anonymous submissions don't collect identifying info
- IP addresses are logged for abuse prevention only
- Email addresses (if collected) are encrypted
- Tipster information is never shared publicly
### Legal Compliance
- Tiplines should comply with local laws
- Don't make promises you can't keep
- Don't solicit illegal information
- Follow your agency's policies on public outreach
### Data Retention
- Tips are retained indefinitely by default
- You can delete individual tips if needed
- Deactivated tiplines preserve all submitted tips
- Export tip data before deleting tipline
## Troubleshooting
**Can't See "Create Tipline" Button**
- Check your membership tier (must be Premium)
- Verify you're viewing your own case
- Ensure case doesn't already have a tipline
**Tips Not Coming Through**
- Check tipline is activated
- Verify public URL is accessible
- Test submission yourself
- Check spam filters for email notifications
**Button Shows Lock Icon**
- This indicates Premium-only feature
- Click button to view upgrade options
- Existing tiplines still work at any tier
## FAQ
**Q: Can I create multiple tiplines per case?**
A: No, each case can have one tipline. You can edit it at any time.
**Q: Are tiplines really anonymous?**
A: Yes, if configured for anonymous submissions. We only log IP addresses for abuse prevention.
**Q: What if I downgrade from Premium?**
A: Existing tiplines continue working. You just can't create new ones.
**Q: Can I customize the look of my tipline?**
A: Not currently, but all tiplines match the professional CaseConnect branding.
**Q: How do I know when I get a new tip?**
A: You'll receive email notifications (if enabled) and see a count in the tipline management page.
## Related Articles
- Understanding Membership Tiers
- Managing Your Cases
- Privacy and Security Best Practices