Creating a Downloadable PDF Link in WordPress

Sometimes you want to do something super simple... but aren't quite sure how to accomplish it. Linking someone to a PDF they can download through your website is one of those things. I remember first learning how to do this. It's an act we as users may take for granted. But being able to provide someone a downloadable PDF immediately just through site copy is a very valuable thing to know how to do.

Keep in mind - if you want someone to sign up and then be emailed with a PDF, that's a different process! If you'd like to see how to do that, please comment below and let me know!

First, upload your PDF to your website's Media Library. You can do this by dragging and dropping in the file in, or using the Upload button. Once you can see it sitting in the Media Library, you can move on to the next step.

Click on the PDF in the Media Library to open up the screen that contains all the file details. Find the area marked File URL. This is the link to the PDF. You can give anyone this link and it will open up this specific PDF.

Now all you have to do is embed that link where you want to. You can make it a link in your text. You can use it for a linked image. You can even place it in the link area for a button. No matter where you put it, I recommend having it open in a new tab if possible. That way when it opens up, the user can download it and not need to hit the Back button to get back to your website.

And that's it! You can use this link on your site, in an email, anywhere you can embed a link. And whoever clicks it can download it from their computer or mobile device.

If you want to take this to the next level - like charging per download, tracking the number of downloads, etc. - you will need some other third party software. Like a plugin or a program like MailChimp.