Do you wish to simply promote digital downloads on-line?
Perhaps you’re planning to promote ebooks, on-line programs, your personal pictures, digital artwork, music, or one thing else.
Regardless of the kind of digital product, WordPress makes it simple to promote these premium downloads and ship them to your prospects in a safe means.
On this article, we are going to present you methods to promote digital downloads on WordPress.
Which Platform Ought to You Use to Promote Digital Merchandise?
First, you’ll want to decide on an eCommerce platform that you simply’ll use to promote digital merchandise.
Digital downloads are principally merchandise that customers can obtain to their computer systems after making a purchase order. Merchandise like eBooks, digital artwork, photos, illustrations, printables, software program, music, and movies are a number of examples of probably the most generally offered digital merchandise on-line.
An eCommerce platform is a software program that means that you can add your digital recordsdata and provide them on the market.
You’ll wish to select your eCommerce platform rigorously. That’s as a result of transferring platforms could be sophisticated and take quite a lot of effort and time.
Some platforms are higher fitted to promoting bodily items vs digital ones. You wish to make certain that you’re selecting an answer that has options to guard your digital downloads, have correct licensing, subscriptions, and different key options built-in.
We advocate utilizing WordPress + Simple Digital Downloads.
WordPress is the greatest web site builder available on the market utilized by over 43% of all web sites on the web. Simply Digital Downloads is one of the best WordPress eCommerce plugin to promote digital merchandise.
In reality, we use this plugin ourselves to promote lots of our premium WordPress plugins that are downloadable recordsdata restricted for members solely, and it comes with license keys built-in.
WordPress has an enormous benefit over different platforms like Gumroad, Sellfy, or Sendowl. It offers you full management over your web site, and you may promote as many merchandise as you need with out paying a excessive month-to-month or transaction charges.
Now, it’s necessary to know that there are two varieties of WordPress software program, and also you don’t wish to select the fallacious one.
First, there may be WordPress.com, which is a weblog internet hosting platform. Then, there may be WordPress.org which is often known as self-hosted WordPress.
For an in depth comparability, you possibly can see our information on the distinction between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
You have to use the self-hosted WordPress.org platform as a result of it offers you full management over your web site with full freedom to promote any kind of digital merchandise.
We’ll present you methods to simply setup your WordPress website with Simple Digital Downloads with just some steps.
Step 1. Setting Up Your WordPress Web site
To start out promoting digital downloads with WordPress, you’ll want a area title, webhosting, and an SSL certificates.
A website title is your web site’s handle on the web. That is what guests will kind into their browsers to achieve your web site, reminiscent of wpbeginner.com.
Webhosting is the place your web site lives on-line. You may consider internet hosting as your web site’s home on the web. That will help you out, we’ve hand-picked among the greatest WordPress internet hosting which you could purchase.
Considered one of our high advisable internet hosting supplier, SiteGround, affords managed WordPress internet hosting for Simple Digital Downloads. It comes with a free SSL certificates, EDD pre-installed, all of the optimization options, and also you get an enormous 73% off.
Mainly, you possibly can create and run your web site for lower than $5 per thirty days.
Let’s go forward and stroll by methods to buy your area, webhosting, and SSL certificates.
Go forward and open the SiteGround web site in a brand new tab so you possibly can comply with alongside right here. The very first thing it’s essential do is click on on the Get Plan button.
After that, SiteGround will ask you to enter a site title to your web site.
In case you don’t have already got a reputation in thoughts, then you possibly can see our information on how to decide on one of the best area title.
Lastly, you’ll need so as to add your account info. Additionally, you will have the ability to buy some non-obligatory extras.
You may at all times add these extras at a later date in case you resolve that you simply want them. In case you’re uncertain then we advocate skipping this step.
After coming into your fee particulars, SiteGround will ship you an e mail with directions on methods to log into internet hosting account. This can be a webhosting management panel the place you possibly can handle your new web site.
Merely log into your SiteGround account, and also you’ll see that SiteGround has already put in WordPress for you, and it comes with Simple Digital Downloads (pre-installed as effectively).
You may then click on on the ‘WordPress Admin’ button.
It will take you to your WordPress website’s dashboard the place you’ll see Simple Digital Downloads pre-installed.
If for some cause, you don’t wish to use SiteGround, then it’s also possible to set up WordPress on different internet hosting corporations like Bluehost, Hostinger, and WP Engine following a reasonably related course of.
Step 2. Setting Up Simple Digital Downloads
By default WordPress doesn’t embrace an eCommerce functionalityout of the field, and that’s why you’ll want a plugin with the intention to promote your digital downloads.
Plugins for WordPress websites are like apps to your telephone. They add every kind of various options and performance to your web site.
Be aware: For this tutorial, we’ll be utilizing the free model of Simple Digital Downloads. There’s additionally a premium model with extra superior options reminiscent of highly effective e mail advertising service instruments, extra fee gateways, e mail assist, and rather more.
Now in case you used SiteGround, then Simple Digital Downloads comes pre-installed. However in case you’re utilizing different internet hosting supplier, then you definately’d to manually set up the Simple Digital Downloads plugin.
First, it’s essential set up and activate the Simple Digital Downloads plugin. For extra particulars, see our step-by-step information on methods to set up a WordPress plugin.
Upon activation, it’s essential go to Downloads » Settings web page in your WordPress admin space.
From right here, first it’s essential set your retailer’s location.
You would possibly surprise, why is your location wanted in case you’re not promoting bodily merchandise? It’s as a result of when a buyer makes a purchase order, Simple Digital Downloads will use the nation and state info to auto-fill some fields. Additionally, your location could also be used to calculate gross sales tax.
So as to add your location, open the ‘Base Nation’ dropdown menu. Now you can select the situation the place what you are promoting is predicated.
Subsequent, discover the ‘Base State / Province’ area. Right here you possibly can kind the bottom state or province the place your retailer operates from.
After coming into this info, scroll to the underside of the display screen and click on on the Save Adjustments button.
Step 3. Establishing Your Fee Gateway
If you wish to promote downloads, then you definately’ll want a solution to course of funds out of your prospects.
Simple Digital Downloads helps PayPal, Stripe, and Amazon Funds. These are all in style fee gateways.
If you wish to add extra fee gateways, then you might have considered trying to try the Simple Digital Obtain extensions which incorporates different options like Braintree, Authorize.web, and plenty of extra.
To decide on your fee gateways, click on on the Funds tab. Then be certain the Gateways tab is chosen.
Within the Fee Gateways part, choose the entire gateways that you simply wish to use in your new WordPress web site.
The commonest fee gateways are Stripe and PayPal, so we’ll present you methods to set these up.
In case you’re utilizing a number of fee suppliers, then you definately’ll want to decide on a default fee gateway. That is the choice that might be chosen mechanically when the customer hundreds your checkout web page.
We advocate setting Stripe because the default since most individuals wish to pay with bank cards.
Now scroll to the underside of this web page and click on on Save Adjustments.
As soon as the web page reloads, it would have some new tabs. You need to use these tabs to configure your chosen fee gateways.
If you wish to use PayPal, then click on on the PayPal tab. Now you can kind your PayPal e mail handle and password.
To arrange Stripe, click on on the Stripe tab. Then click on on the ‘Join with Stripe’ button.
This opens a setup wizard, which can provide help to join your web site to Stripe.
Now, relying in your location, you might also wish to customise the foreign money used in your web site.
By default Simple Digital Downloads reveals your entire costs in US {dollars}. It additionally locations the greenback register entrance of the worth, so 5 {dollars} is proven as ‘$5.’
To alter the default foreign money settings, scroll to the highest of the display screen and click on on the Foreign money tab.
Subsequent, open the Foreign money dropdown. Now you can select a brand new foreign money.
Simply remember that some fee gateways might not settle for each foreign money. In case you’re uncertain, then it’s a good suggestion to verify the web site to your chosen fee gateway. Most fee gateways have a listing of the currencies that they assist.
In case you’ve made any adjustments on this web page, then don’t neglect to click on on the Save Adjustments button.
Step 4. Creating Your First Digital Product
Now that your WordPress website is ready up, you’re prepared to begin promoting your digital items!
To create your first digital product, go to Downloads » Add New.
Now you can kind a reputation to your product into the ‘Enter obtain title right here’ area.
Subsequent, kind out an outline for this product. WordPress will present this description to your guests, so that you’ll wish to be certain it’s descriptive and convincing.
Many on-line shops and web sites use product classes and tags. This can assist customers discover the product they’re searching for and may encourage them to discover associated merchandise.
You may create classes and tags within the Obtain Classes and Obtain Tags sections.
After that, scroll to the Obtain Costs part.
By default Simple Digital Downloads will provide your product as a free obtain. In case you’re going to promote your digital downloads, then you definately’ll wish to set a value.
So as to add a value, scroll to the Obtain Costs part. You may then kind the quantity that guests might want to pay with the intention to obtain this product.
The subsequent step is importing your product. This is likely to be an e-book, a recorded webinar, a PDF information, {photograph}, or some other file that WordPress helps.
Professional Tip: If you wish to promote a file kind that WordPress doesn’t assist, reminiscent of SVG photos, PSD recordsdata, or others, then see our information on methods to permit extra file sorts in WordPress.
So as to add your downloadable file, merely scroll to the Obtain Recordsdata part.
Within the File Title area, kind a reputation to your downloadable file. Then you possibly can click on on the ‘Add a file’ button.
It will launch the WordPress media library. Right here you possibly can select the file you wish to provide for obtain.
The ultimate step is including a product picture.
Once you’re promoting digital downloads, it’s possible you’ll must get artistic along with your product photos. For instance, in case you’re promoting a recorded webinar, then you definately would possibly use a screenshot from the video.
You may simply create a professional-looking product picture utilizing net design software program reminiscent of Canva.
So as to add a product picture, you simply must scroll to the Obtain Picture part.
You may then click on on the ‘Set Obtain Picture’ hyperlink. This launches the WordPress media library the place you possibly can select your product picture.
Once you’re proud of the knowledge you’ve entered, click on on the Publish button.
Your first digital product is dwell! Now you can preview your product web page in motion.
Now you can create extra digital downloads just by repeating these steps.
Step 5. Choosing and Customizing Your WordPress Theme
Themes management how your WordPress web site appears to be like to the folks after they go to it, together with the format, colours, and fonts.
There are millions of WordPress themes, so it may be exhausting to resolve which one to begin with. You may take a look at our choose of the hottest WordPress themes for some nice choices.
When you’ve chosen a theme, you possibly can see our newbie’s information on methods to set up a WordPress theme to get it dwell in your web site.
After your theme is put in, you should use our information on methods to customise your WordPress theme to make it your personal.
In case you’re simply beginning out, you should use the Astra Theme or the Teaching Professional theme each are absolutely suitable with EDD.
An alternative choice is to create your personal customized theme from scratch.
To create a customized theme, you’ll want SeedProd.
It’s the greatest web site builder plugin out there and is utilized by over 1 million web sites. You need to use it to create stunning layouts which can be professionally designed and optimized for conversions and gross sales.
SeedProd additionally comes with a lot of ready-made templates. This consists of designs which can be good for selling your digital downloads.
For extra particulars, take a look at our information on methods to create a customized WordPress theme (no coding wanted).
Step 6. Customizing Your Digital Obtain Emails
Each time somebody buys a digital obtain, Simple Digital Downloads will ship an e mail to that particular person.
This e mail has a hyperlink that the shopper can use to obtain the file they only bought.
It’s possible you’ll wish to customise this e mail so as to add your personal textual content and branding. Sturdy branding could make what you are promoting look extra skilled and encourage loyalty.
To customise your emails, go to Downloads » Settings and click on on the Emails tab. Then, be certain the Normal tab is chosen.
You can begin by including a brand to your emails.
This brand might be proven on the high of your buy receipt emails.
So as to add a brand to your emails, click on on the Add File button and add or select an present picture out of your WordPress media library.
You may also add a ‘From Title.’ This title might be proven within the buyer’s inbox. You’ll wish to use one thing that instantly lets prospects know who you might be, such because the title of your web site.
You’ll additionally want so as to add a ‘From E-mail.’
This e mail will act because the ‘from’ and ‘reply-to’ handle. Since prospects might reply to your messages, you’ll wish to use a skilled e mail handle that you simply verify regularly.
When you’re completely happy along with your e mail branding, click on on the Buy Receipts tab. On this tab you possibly can write the e-mail that prospects will get each time they make a purchase order.
It’s possible you’ll wish to begin by checking how this e mail at the moment appears to be like. To do that, click on on the ‘Preview Buy Receipt’ button. It will present your e mail in a brand new tab.
Within the Buy Receipts tab, you possibly can add an e mail topic and heading. You may also change the e-mail’s physique textual content.
Right here dynamic textual content could be your secret weapon. Dynamic textual content is just textual content that adjustments based mostly on elements reminiscent of the customer’s title and the date.
Simple Digital Downloads helps dynamic textual content. In case you scroll down, then you definately’ll discover the entire completely different dynamic textual content that you should use.
You may copy and paste these completely different items of dynamic textual content into your emails.
Each time it sends an e mail, Simple Digital Downloads will substitute this placeholder dynamic textual content with actual values such because the buyer’s title.
As you’re working in your e mail, it’s possible you’ll wish to ship a check e mail. Merely click on on the Ship Check button and Simple Digital Downloads will ship an e mail to your admin e mail handle.
Have you ever clicked on the Ship Check e mail button, however haven’t acquired an e mail? Then you possibly can comply with our information on methods to repair WordPress not sending e mail concern to ensure your emails attain your prospects.
Once you’re completely happy along with your buy receipt emails, scroll to the underside of the display screen and click on on the Save Adjustments button.
Step 7. Selling Your Digital Downloads
Simple Digital Downloads publishes every product as a brand new web page. In case you’re going to promote your digital downloads, then you definately’ll must drive site visitors to those pages.
This would possibly imply including these pages to your web site’s menu. You may also hyperlink to your product pages from completely different areas of your web site. This will likely embrace your weblog posts, touchdown pages, and even an announcement bar.
So as to add these hyperlinks, you’ll must know the product web page’s URL. You’ll discover this info straight beneath the product’s title.
An alternative choice is including the product’s Buy Shortcode to a web page or publish.
To create a Buy button, scroll to the product’s Obtain Settings part. You may then copy the Buy Shortcode.
You may then add the shortcode to any publish or web page, or perhaps a widget space like your sidebar.
For extra particulars, see our information on methods to use shortcodes in WordPress.
The shortcode will add a purchase order button. Every time a customer clicks on this button, it would add the digital obtain to their purchasing cart.
The acquisition button may even flip right into a checkout button. Clicking on this button will take the shopper to the Simple Digital Downloads checkout, the place they will enter their fee info and purchase their obtain.
For extra particulars on methods to place the shortcode, you possibly can see our information on methods to add a shortcode in WordPress.
BONUS – Instruments to Promote Extra Digital Downloads
You’ve efficiently added digital downloads to your website! Your subsequent problem is convincing guests to purchase these downloads.
That is the place WordPress plugins are available in.
Listed here are a few of our high picks for plugins that may provide help to promote extra digital downloads.
OptinMonster is the conversion optimization software program available on the market. You need to use it to create optin varieties to develop your e mail record and convert guests into paying prospects. It will possibly additionally cut back purchasing cart abandonment.All in One web optimization is the greatest web optimization plugin for WordPress and can assist you optimize your website for search engines like google and yahoo to get extra site visitors and gross sales.MonsterInsights is the greatest Analytics answer for WordPress. It helps you see the place your guests are coming from and what they do in your web site, so you may make selections and replace your advertising technique based mostly on actual knowledge.AffiliateWP can assist you attain an entire new viewers with internet online affiliate marketing. AffiliateWP has every part it’s essential create your personal associates program, so folks can promote your merchandise to their viewers for a fee.PushEngage is the greatest push notification software program for WordPress. It means that you can ship personalised net push notifications to let your prospects learn about every part from new digital downloads, to particular affords, and even unique coupon codes.
FAQs About Promoting Digital Downloads
A lot of our readers frequently attain out to us with questions on promoting digital downloads. Now we have tried to reply among the most regularly requested questions under.
1. Can I begin promoting digital downloads without spending a dime?
The Simple Digital Downloads plugin is 100% free. It has every part it’s essential begin promoting digital downloads in your WordPress web site.
Whereas Simple Digital Downloads is free, you’ll want a site title and webhosting account to run it which can price cash.
As what you are promoting grows, you might also wish to improve to the professional model of Simple Digital Downloads. This superior plugin consists of highly effective e mail advertising instruments, extra fee gateways, and assist for promoting digital subscriptions with WordPress.
2. How a lot does it price to create a WordPress web site?
It relies on your marketing strategy and finances. You can begin with Bluehost for $2.75 per thirty days and use free plugins and themes to restrict your prices. We advocate a enterprise mannequin the place you begin small after which spend cash as you begin to promote extra digital downloads.
For extra info, see our article on how a lot it prices to construct a WordPress web site.
3. Can I additionally promote bodily merchandise?
Completely! It’s commonplace for a profitable enterprise to broaden into new areas.
Regardless of the title, you should use Simple Digital Downloads to promote bodily merchandise. There’s even a Easy Transport addon that provides transport options to the Simple Digital Downloads plugin.
4. Will my prospects’ digital obtain hyperlinks expire?
By default each digital obtain hyperlink will expire after 24 hours. That is designed to cease prospects from sharing your hyperlinks, and even posting them publicly.
You may change this 24 hour deadline by going to Downloads » Settings in your WordPress dashboard. You may then click on on Misc » File Downloads.
Now, discover the Obtain Hyperlink Expiration area. Then merely kind within the variety of hours you’d just like the obtain hyperlink to be out there earlier than it expires.
We hope that this tutorial helped you discover ways to promote digital downloads. You might also wish to see these simple methods to drive site visitors to your new web site, or see our knowledgeable comparability of the greatest dwell chat software program for small companies.
In case you favored this text, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You may also discover us on Twitter and Fb.
The publish The right way to Promote Digital Downloads on WordPress (Newbie’s Information) first appeared on WPBeginner.
Subscribe to MarketingSolution.
Receive web development discounts & web design tutorials.
Now! Lets GROW Together!