How to Easily Add a Download Link in WordPress

If you want to make download guides, videos, or even paid products easily accessible to your readers, why not add a download link to your WordPress website? Even though it might sound complicated, it’s really simple to set up. It’s a task even WordPress beginners will be able to master quickly! Plus, you have WP experts who prepared a detailed step-by-step guide which you’ll find further in this article. Now let’s get to work!

Why should you add a download link in WordPress?

Before we reveal our easy ways to add download links to your WordPress website, we’ll let you know why you should consider adding them in the first place. First of all, you’ll make it easy for your visitors to download any content. From eBooks, videos, photos, and plugins, to other material and documents, you post anything to your site by including a download link for your WordPress files.

Woman sitting at a coffee shop, working on her laptop and holding a smartphone in her left hand
Adding useful download links to your WordPress website can help you improve the user experience.

Also, this makes it simple for you to provide exclusive material for your visitors. In return, this will aid in the growth of your email list and help you convert those leads into clients. If you use these downloads and give them away as freebies to your loyal customers, you can further develop your relationships and boost brand engagement.

Another good idea is to set up a basic membership site to host your members-only tutorials and other content behind a barrier. If you get creative, you can think of a number of ways to utilize download links on your website to boost customer experience, attract more visitors and customers, and ensure you keep existing ones for as long as possible.

Three simple ways to add a download link in WordPress

And now, we’ve come to the fun part! If you want to handle this task on your own instead of letting a professional website maintenance service handle it for you, we’ve prepared not one but three simple methods for adding different types of download links in WordPress:

  1. Adding a download link using WordPress built-in setting
  2. Use the OptinMonster plugin to add a download link in WordPress
  3. Add chargeable download links to your WordPress

How to add a download link using built-in WordPress settings?

The simplest way to add a download link to your WordPress website is to use the block editor. Simply click the “Plus” add block button on a page or post where you want to add a download link and then look for the word “File” and click the block.

Woman in a black sweater working on her laptop and trying to add a download link to a WordPress website
Even if you are a WordPress beginner you’ll quickly get a hang of adding download links to WordPress.

Then, you’ll be able to see the “Upload” button. By clicking on it, you may either upload a file or select one from your media library. As soon as you add a file, the download link will appear automatically. So when your users click this, the file will be downloaded to their devices. It’s really as simple as that!

You can also change the name of the link by simply clicking on the text and editing it to change the link’s name. Depending on the type of file you’ve added, you can set different display choices. You can play around with these settings in the right hand panel.

For example, let’s say you want to upload a PDF file. In that case, you can choose whether the link goes straight to the media file or to a separate attachment page. Or, you can select the option and make the download open in a new tab. By choosing the “Show download button” below, you can also put a download button next to your link. After clicking on the “Save” or “Publish” button, you’ll be able to see the download link in action on your WordPress website.

How to add a download link using the OptinMonster plugin?

Another quick and easy way to add a download link to your WordPress website is to use the OptinMonster plugin. It’s one of the most popular popup and lead generation plugins for WordPress and it’s currently being used on 1.2 million websites.

This plugin contains a unique technology that allows you to build popups that appear when a user opens a link. You can use them to distribute content upgrades, digital downloads, and so much more.

The Zeigarnik effect (users who begin an action are more likely to complete it) is used in this form of popup. One of the best things about this plugin is that it allows you to track and manage your file downloads. This way, you can easily determine what your users are most interested in.

How to add links for members-only?

In case you want to sell downloaded files online but want them to be available for your members only, you have several different alternatives:

  • Depending on what you want to add to your website, the MemberPress plugin can be used to create a membership site or sell online courses. It’s the one of, if not the best, WordPress plugin for creating membership levels, members-only downloads, courses, tutorials, and many different things.
  • Another plugin you can try is the Easy Digital Downloads plugin. This plugin is designed to offer premium downloads. eBooks, music, software, and similar are good examples. It also allows you to set up recurring subscriptions, licensing support, and password-protected downloads.
Using a WordPress plugin is one of the ways to add a download link
One of the biggest benefits of having a WordPress website is that there is always a plugin available to solve any problem you might be experiencing.

Final thoughts

We hope our article helped you learn how to add a download link in WordPress easily. As you can see, it’s quick and easy to set up and it comes with many benefits for your website as well as your business. But we completely understand you have more important business aspects to take care of and adding these finesse to your website can take some time. Why not then reach out to the WP Full Care team and leave your website in the hands of pros? You can sit back and relax knowing your website is running smoothly!

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