How to Add Ebook Downloads in WordPress (Step by Step Guide)

Hey there! Do you want to allow users to download ebooks from your WordPress site? There are a few great ways to make that happen.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore the top methods for adding ebook downloads in WordPress:

• Direct ebook downloads using the WordPress File block
• Gate your ebook behind an email opt-in form
• Sell ebooks using Easy Digital Downloads

I‘ll explain the pros and cons of each approach based on your goals. By the end, you‘ll know exactly how to add ebooks to your WordPress site. Let‘s get started!

Why Offer Ebook Downloads?

But first – why add ebook downloads in the first place?

Ebooks and PDF downloads provide tons of benefits:

• Engaging Content Marketing. Ebooks help attract and retain website visitors. According to HubSpot, companies that blog and share ebooks get 55% more website visitors than those that don‘t.

• Lead Generation. Ebooks can be gated behind opt-in forms to grow your email list. Software company Heinz found that ebook subscribers spent 5 times more than non-subscribers.

• Revenue Potential. Ebooks can be sold directly for passive income. Marketer Amy Porterfield made over $100,000 selling a single ebook.

In short, ebooks should absolutely be part of your digital marketing strategy. Now let‘s look at the best ways to add them in WordPress.

Method 1: Direct Ebook Downloads with the File Block

The easiest way to add a free ebook download is by using the File block in the WordPress editor.

The File block allows you to quickly:

✓ Upload a PDF ebook
✓ Display it directly on any post or page
✓ Let visitors download the file instantly

Uploading and Configuring the Ebook File

To add an ebook with the File block:

1. Edit the page or post where you want the download to appear.

2. Click the "Add Block" button and search for the "File" block.

3. Upload your completed ebook PDF file. You can drag and drop it!

4. Tweak display settings like showing a preview or not.

5. Finalize the block and publish the post or page.

Now your ebook PDF is live as a direct download link! The entire setup takes just a few minutes.

Pro Tip: Remove the preview to create a cleaner ebook landing page focused solely on the download button.

Promoting the Ebook Download

To maximize downloads, aggressively promote your ebook file page:

• Link to it prominently in your main site navigation menu
• Share it on social media and in email newsletters
• Mention it in related blog content across your site
• Add a "Download Now" call to action button leading to the page

The more places you feature the download link, the more downloads you‘ll get. Make it easy for visitors to find!

Pros of the File Block Method

• Super fast setup – Easily add ebooks in just minutes
• SEO optimized – Displays ebook content directly on a webpage
• Great user experience – Built-in PDF viewer with no extra plugins needed
• Completely free – Share an ebook at no cost to you or the user

Cons to Consider

• No email opt-in – Doesn‘t help you build an email list
• Limited marketing options – Hard to connect ebook to other funnels
• No ecommerce features – Can‘t sell ebooks, only offer them for free

While great for sharing free content, the File block lacks powerful marketing features. Let‘s look at two more options next.

Method 2: Gate Ebook Downloads with Email Opt-ins

Want to grow your email list with ebooks? This method lets you gate ebook access behind an email signup form.

Visitors must subscribe before they can download the ebook. You capture their email address in exchange for the free content.

Choosing the Right Email Opt-in Plugin

To create high-converting email opt-in forms, you‘ll need a popup plugin.

We recommend OptinMonster based on extensive testing of the top options.

OptinMonster makes it super easy to:

• Build custom on-site popups and target them to specific pages/visitors
• Design mobile-friendly opt-in forms that convert
• Integrate with all major email services like Mailchimp

Over 5 million websites use it to get more email subscribers.

Creating Email Opt-in Popups That Convert

With OptinMonster, you can make popups specifically for gating ebook downloads.

1. Pick an on-site popup template that matches your brand.

2. Customize the content, colors, and fonts.

3. Add your email form integration.

4. Set the button text to "Download Now" or similar.

In minutes, you‘ll have a high-converting ebook opt-in popup ready to go!

Connecting the Popup to the Ebook

Next, connect your new popup to the page with the ebook:

• Set it to trigger when visitors click the File block‘s download button.

• Or display automatically when someone lands on the page.

Either way, visitors can‘t access the ebook until they subscribe!

Promoting the Ebook Download

Drive targeted traffic to your ebook download page:

• Link to it from related content across your site
• Share it on social media
• Send email promotions to current subscribers
• Run Facebook and Google ads focused on the ebook topic

This "lead magnet" strategy turns your ebook into a subscriber growth machine!

The Pros of Using Opt-in Popups

• Builds your email list – Captures leads in exchange for downloads
• Highly customizable – Create on-brand popups that convert
• Advanced targeting – Display to specific visitors and pages
• Works with top email services – Integrates with Mailchimp, ConvertKit, etc.

Potential Cons

• Extra plugin required – Added setup compared to the File block
• Can‘t sell ebooks – Only works for free gated downloads
• Needs solid traffic – Popups require visitors to convert

If you also want to sell your ebook directly, then Easy Digital Downloads is a great choice.

Method 3: Sell Ebooks with Easy Digital Downloads

To charge money for ebook downloads, you need an eCommerce solution.

The best one for selling digital products like ebooks is Easy Digital Downloads.

This flexible plugin lets you:

✓ Create buy buttons and checkout pages
✓ Set up pricing and payment options
✓ Track purchases and download activity

And much more – everything you need to sell PDFs or ebooks from your site.

Setting Up the Ebook Product

To create a sellable ebook with Easy Digital Downloads:

1. Install and activate the plugin.

2. Create a new Download product for your ebook.

3. Enter a title, description, and upload your completed PDF.

4. Set up pricing and checkout options.

5. Add an eye-catching product image like the ebook‘s cover.

Once published, your ebook will have a polished product page ready to drive sales!

Promoting the Ebook Download

Actively promote your ebook product page:

• Link to it prominently in your main menu
• Share it on social media
• Mention it in related blog content
• Use SEO to rank it for relevant buyer keywords
• Run Facebook/Google ads focused on the ebook topic

The more targeted traffic, the more potential customers will find and purchase your ebook.

Advanced Features for Selling Ebooks

Easy Digital Downloads packs tons of powerful eCommerce features:

• Flexible pricing options like bundles and subscriptions
• Discount coupons and volume pricing
• Apple Pay, Stripe, and PayPal integrations
• Purchase tracking and advanced analytics
• Automatic buying using Purchase Shortcodes
• PDF watermarking to prevent sharing

EDD can handle loads of products and scale your store as large as you need.

Pros of Selling Ebooks with EDD

• True ecommerce solution – Everything needed to sell ebooks
• Recurring revenue – Create passive income streams
• Robust features – Details like coupons and bundled products
• Highly customizable – Fits your brand and needs

Potential Limitations

• More setup time – EDD has a learning curve
• Transaction fees – PayPal and Stripe take a percentage
• No email list building – Doesn‘t capture leads like opt-ins

Selling provides the most monetization potential for your ebooks. But you can also combine it with lead capture forms for a powerful hybrid strategy.

Which Ebook Method Should You Choose?

Now you know a few different options for adding ebooks to WordPress:

1. File block for direct access
2. Opt-in popups for list building
3. Easy Digital Downloads for eCommerce

So which one is right for you?

• If you just want to freely share an ebook, stick with the File block for its simplicity.

• If list building is the goal, use a popup plugin like OptinMonster to gate the content.

• To maximize revenue, create a product listing with Easy Digital Downloads.

Many publishers actually combine both free opt-in ebooks and paid downloads! This takes advantage of multiple monetization methods.

No matter which approach you choose, use the tips in this guide to successfully add and promote ebooks on your WordPress site.

Hope this gives you a full overview of the top ways to easily add ebook downloads in WordPress. Just choose the one aligned with your goals to get started! Let me know if you have any other questions.