Although one can just upload the files either to their host or through the WordPress media manager and then link to them in their posts or pages , there sure is an easier way around that. Besides the ability to upload files and manually create download links, one can gain more insight if they were able to track and intuitively manage their downloads, for instance, restricting access to downloads to say only paid users or logged in members. The truth is you can achieve this without a download manager tool , but, it will be a hell of a job.
So we, draw from the WordPress repo for plugins that can help us complete the task. For this article, we shall use Download Monitor. Download Monitor, like most other WordPress download managers; provides you an easy way to create and manage downloads on your website.
Here are some of its advertised features. You can also find them on their WordPress plugin page. In your admin area go to Plugins and then click Add New.
You are taken to a page from where you will search for Download Monitor. When the results are populated click Install Now , once it is installed, the Activate button appears — click it. On activation, on the plugin page, you will see a notice like one below, click the link to finish the installation process. You are guided through the creation of the necessary pages — the No Access page is recommended — it is the page unauthorized visitors will see.
If you do not intend to sell your downloads, then you can skip the Cart and Checkout pages. Under the Settings from the menu are some other configuration options that you may want to experiment with — we shall not get into them in this article.
You can see what it looks like in the image below. The next field you should add to the form is a File Upload field. This is how it should look below:. Now it's time to save the form and protect the uploaded files , so click update.
Click on Settings after the form has been updated. Then, scroll to Form Permissions and check the box that says Protect all files uploaded in this form. To save this change, simply click Update. Very important: your new subscribers need to see the files you're giving them. So you'll need to display those files. You can do this by creating a new View. This is just like when you create a brand new form, except you click on View instead of Forms.
Choose Grid for the View type. Call your new View "Display Protected File. In the content box, click on the Text tab instead of Visual. Otherwise, this won't work. Save your changes before moving onto the next step. More on that later. Now that the groundwork is in place, let's create a simple contact form that will appear on your WordPress site.
Be sure to include an email address field and check the Required box. This way, you'll be able to capture the email address before receiving the digital download. Then feel free to add whatever fields to the form you want. This is the form where users submit information to receive a download.
The next step is to show them the downloadable file after they give you their email address. This is where the whole idea of offering the files is put into action. To do this, go to the Form Settings page for the contact form you just created. WordPress has become one of the most popular platforms for users to create websites.
One of the ways you can do that is by backing up your site, including the media files. Other than security reasons, there will also be a time when you might need to transfer images between websites. The safest way you can download your media library is by using the hosting control panel.
Scroll down to the Files section and click on the File Manager. Would like to know the best plugins for limiting downloads per user. Really appreciate your suggestions on this. Thanks for choosing to leave a comment. Please keep in mind that all comments are moderated according to our comment policy , and your email address will NOT be published.
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Don't subscribe All Replies to my comments Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting. All Rights Reserved. On other hands, you might simply want to restrict certain files based on user roles. Tracking File Downloads in WordPress Using MonsterInsights If you offer free downloads on your website, then you may not be concerned about managing or controlling downloads.
This will help you know where to invest your resources when creating new content. To see statistics about your downloads, just go to Insights » Reports and switch to the Publishers tab: Scroll down, and you will see your top download links. These will be listed along with their anchor text: If you have more than 1 link to a specific file, then those links will be listed separately here. This will take you straight into Google Analytics, where you will see a report with the URLs of your downloaded files: By default, MonsterInsights tracks downloads for all common file types including documents.
Method 2. Controlling File Downloads in WordPress Using MemberPress If you want to sell online courses or digital downloads, then a great way to control and manage file downloads is to use MemberPress. First, you need to enter a title for your download. Method 3. Managing File Downloads in WordPress Using WooCommerce This method is for users who want to sell file downloads along with physical goods like shirts, swags, etc. After that, click on the Add File button to upload the file for your digital download.
Once you are satisfied, click the Publish button to make your product available. After the checkout, the user can download the file to their computer. Download Now. Author s Featured On: and many more Tips and Tricks Modules Tutorials. Web Hosting Guides. Easy Digital Downloads 2. WordPress Download Monitor 4. WP-Download Manager 5. WooCommerce 6. Google Analytics 2. How do I protect download links in WordPress? How do I make a download page in WordPress?
As eCommerce plugins like WooCommerce and WP Commerce gain traction amongst the Alexa Top 1M, there is a huge demand for subsidiary plugins that are related to eCommerce business like plugins that monitor downloading of files. He has vast experience in the software and web design industries using WordPress, Joomla and niches surrounding them. As a digital consultant, his focus is on helping businesses get a competitive advantage using a combination of their website and digital platforms available today.
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