Nope, there's no workaround. This is a firm technical barrier that's endemic to the way email and web browsers work.
Unless you use expiring links (which could still be forwarded as much as people want, until they expire) or pre-shared passwords (which of course can be forwarded around just as easily) a link will be usable by anyone who has it. This is true of all URLs, everywhere.
The only way you can provide a different experience is by requiring an existing associated web session. That's equivalent (very roughly) to having a page that's only available to logged-in users.
Thank you for your inputs Sanford, it is real deal breaker if there is no workaround. I will keep looking up ways to minimize potential loss of contacts.
I will keep looking up ways to minimize potential loss of contacts.
You can encourage people to use the Forward to Friend feature instead of clicking the "Forward" button in their email client.. perhaps incentivize them somehow if someone converts (if your business allows for that). But you can't force people to not forward URLs (and again, it's not a Marketo thing, it's true of all URLs).
This is what we have been using so far but it is not very fruitful since people find it easier to directly forward it to a bulk than click and fill-in. Unfortunately, we do not have model where we can incentivize the receiver or the one forwarding it out.
I agree, it's difficult to get people to use F-to-F.
But the mail app's Forward button can't be turned off, and that's just the way it is...
I was reading your posts on switch out token, template form topic and it occurred to me that if there is a way by which the form submit button can be tokenized or if the submit button URL could be redirected to the CTA link in the email from which it was sent out?
...or if the submit button URL could be redirected to the CTA link in the email from which it was sent out?
If the CTA link is the URL form, the submit URL (I assume you actually mean the success URL after the form is submitted) can't be exactly the same.
But the success URL could be based on some values in the CTA link, yes.
I will try to find my work around it, thank you again for your prompt responses and apologies for my delayed ones.