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Adding Paypal to WordPress to sell an eBook

How to Sell an Ebook on your website Adding Paypal to Wordpress to sell an eBook

If you follow these steps you can set this up in about 20 min and start selling your knowledge online by adding PayPal to WordPress! Hang in there guys!  This is not as ugly as it looks.

Once you have an ebook ready to sell on your website you need to follow these 4 Steps:

Step 1: Create the web page you need to sell the product
Step 2: Create and add a PayPal button to that page
Step 3: Create the web page where people can download your eBook once purchased
Step 4: Block the search engines from the page so it will be kept private

Let’s dive in…

Step 1: Create the web page you need to sell the product

  • In the back-end (wp-admin) area of your site either create a new page or add your eBook info to a current page. Include an image, description, price and Paypal button (more on Paypal in Step 2 below). You can get some great tips about how to set up your landing page here.

Step 2: Create and add a PayPal button to that page

  • Sign into your PayPal account.
  • Go to “profile” in the main menu then “My Selling Tools” in the left submenu.
  • On this page choose to update “Website Preferences”.
  • On the top option of the next page you will see “Auto Return for Website Payments”.  Make sure this is turned “on”.
  • Lower down on the same page you will see “PayPal Account Optional”.  Make sure this is turned “off”. These steps are allowing users to be redirected a your new product delivery page automatically after they buy something.
  • Then, Create your PayPal button:
    1 - In Paypal go to “Merchant Services” in the main menu
    2 - In “Website Payments” choose “Buy Now Buttons”
    3 - On that page fill out Step 1 to your preferences with Item Name and Price
    4 - Scroll lower on that page and choose to open “Step 3: Customise advanced features”

Paypal Redirect Page After Purchase Adding Paypal to Wordpress to sell an eBook
5 - Tick the box next to “Take customers to this URL when they finish checkout” and then enter the url of your product delivery page from Step 4 in Create the pages in WordPress from above (in this example I used - www.heatherporter.com/really-cool-page/).  This now tells PayPal to redirect someone automatically to the page where your product download is.
6 - Save your button and use the code to embed a button onto the Page you created in Step 1 in Create the web page you need to sell the product.  You must choose the html viewing option and paste the code in there.  The best way to know where to paste it is by writing INSERT BUTTON HERE in the visual tab, switching to the HTML tab and then pasting your Paypal button code in place of the BUTTON HERE text. Done!  Just save the page.

Insert Paypal button code into Wordpress page Adding Paypal to Wordpress to sell an eBook

Step 3: Create the web page where people can download your eBook once purchased

  • Load your eBook (should be a PDF) to the media library by clicking on “media” in your left side menu then add.  After you upload it you will see something that says “File URL”.  Copy and past that link somewhere to use later.

PDF url Adding Paypal to Wordpress to sell an eBook

  • Create a another new page to deliver the product once someone buys it. On this new page put an image of a PDF icon or your book – something that people can click on to access your file.  Then click on this image you just added so it is in edit mode.  Then click on the link adder (looks like a chain) above in the same area that the bold, italic and other formatting tools are in your visual editor.  Then paste in the file url you saved from the step above.  You have just linked your image to your PDF document so people can download it.  Then write a nice “thank you for your purchase message” below the image. Then of course click “publish”.
    NOTE: If you create the delivery page and it shows up in your main menu you will need to hide it.  In most Wordpress themes and versions you can choose what pages show up in your theme settings or by going to “Appearance” in the left side menu, then “Menus”.  You can set up a main menu there and then just choose which pages you want to show up.
    Or
    If you get stuck with that you can add a plugin to do this by going to Plugins (in the left menu in your wp-admin) – add new -  put “WP Hide Pages” in the search field – choose WP Hide Pages and then install – then activate it.  Then you can go to Settings in the left menu and find “Hide Pages”.  Once there you will see two options – visible pages and hidden pages.  Find the page you want to hid in visible pages – click on it and it will appear in hidden.  Now click update options.
    Or
    You can hire someone on http://fiverr.com to do it for you.
    Then Voila!  Your page is now hidden and can only be accessed if someone has the link.
  • At the top of your new product delivery page under the main title you will see something that says ”Permalink”.  Copy the entire url that is to the right of that and paste it somewhere to use later.  Make sure and save your page.  To use as an example in the steps below I will use www.heatherporter.com/really-cool-page/ as the permalink for the product delivery page.

    Permalinks on Wordpress Adding Paypal to Wordpress to sell an eBook

 

And if you want to get a little more advanced, it is important to block this product delivery page from search engine robots so they can’t find it. Imagine if a user types in the name of your book and finds the delivery page in the search results.  They could just go there and download it for free!  So here is how you fix that problem.

Step 4: Block the search engines from the page so it will be kept private

  • Some themes have an option where you can choose that page to be set on “noindex, nofollow”.  This must only be done and that pages settings and not your entire site or it won’t be found by search engines. Look for this setting under the area where you create your page. See below for an example of what it might look like.Screen Shot 2012 12 27 at 5.47.08 PM Adding Paypal to Wordpress to sell an eBook
  • If your theme does not have this then download either of these plugins: All in One SEO Pack or my favourite WordPress SEO by Yoast. They allow you to easily choose to index or not index all of your pages in the settings on each page. Below is an example of what you would do when using WordPress SEO by Yoast.
    Screen Shot 2012 12 27 at 5.46.14 PM Adding Paypal to Wordpress to sell an eBook

You now have your pages set up so those pesky robots can’t find your product delivery page.

Thanks for hanging in with me during this long tutorial.

I know this was a lot to take in so if you have any questions just leave them in the comments below…

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Posted on June 11, 2011 by in Create and Sell Products, Tutorials

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  • Sandra Wellington

    Heather:

    Thank you so much for your useful information.  I followed your instructions to a T and everything worked out fine.  I am not selling my ebook on my WordPress site using Paypal.
    You have really helped me when I was stuck, you are a God sent and I thank you once again for sharing your knowledge.  I appreciate you very much!

    Enjoy your 4th of July Holiday.

    Sandra

  • Anonymous

    Hi Sandra.  I am glad I could help.  :)

  • Sandralwellington

    Hi Heather:

    It was a small typo, I meant to say on the second line – I am NOW selling.
    Do you have any tutorial on adding a navigation bar on a wordpress sales page.
    I appreciate your answer.
    Thank you
    Sandra

  • Rebecca

    This is an excellent article.  I really appreciate the great information.

  • Donald McIntyre

    “Step 5 – Lower down on the same page you will see “PayPal Account Optional”. Make sure this is turned “off”. These steps are allowing users to be redirected a your new product delivery page automatically after they buy something.”

    Is this absolutelly necessary?  When I set it off it disabled the ability for my clients to pay with credit cards without the need to open a PayPal account.

    I need my clients to use credit crads if they don´t a PayPal account. What is the solution?

    Thx, Donald.

  • Anonymous

    Awesome this helped me out allot…the PayPal Menus have changed a little since then but this explained everything..you should work for PayPal as a tech support writer..since i found nothing like this on the PayPal site…good ole Google!

  • Bill

    “KB Robots.txt” doesn’t exist (No plugins match your request.) in my plugins. I even tried the net and came up with more or less the dame thing,but, it still said to activate it through the “Plugins”. I read where it might not work on my wordpress blog.I am using WordPress 3.2.1(Latest Version). I tell ya though, I was just looking on the net for how to put a “PayPal Button” on my site and received a lot more info. ( great info. mind you) then I was looking for and I thank you for that.

    Thanks and have a GREAT DAY!

    Bill
    P.S. Thats something I didn’t realize about if you are selling something and put a paypal buton on your website or blog and publish it and “Don’t protct your self” that someone could just come across it and “Steal it” right from under you.

    Well, after reading your oage here I’m not going to be selling anything untill I find a way to protect myself.
    If you have any other Ideas on this matter I’d like to here about them.

    Hope you’re having a GREAT WEEKEND.

  • http://www.VineetGupta.net Vineet

    Does Paypal charges for every transaction v do wid them ?

  • Anonymous

    Yes, they charge a small percentage just like a credit card company would in order for you to use their services.

  • http://Mazzastick.com Justin

    Thanks for this tutorial Heather. You helped me tremendously today!

  • Lisa

    I insert my paypal coding and it is not showing up on the live page…

  • DrDebra

    Thanks so much this really help! It was easy to understand and follow and I am not a techy person.

  • http://www.webincome.uk.com/ Ian levings

    Thanks Heather,a great little review, helped me out a lot…..

  • Yarbooa

    Thank you, this was super helpful, simple to understand and easy to perform !!!
    You’re the greatest!

  • Tom

    You are an absolute legend! This saved me a lot of trial and error and grief. Very happy with the results. I’d like to email you a free copy of our ebook (or send you a link to the newly created download page on WP ;-)

    Our email is info at ultimatecitybootcamps.co.uk  (it would not let me write the email address properly. 

    Thanks once again, you’ve made my day!!

    Train Hard, Live Easy

    Tom from Ultimate City Fitness, Londonhttp://ultimatecityfitness.com/    

  • heatherporter

    Hey Tom – glad you liked!  Be in touch about that ebook :)

  • Hannie

    Thanks for the help!

  • heatherporter

    You are welcome!

  • Scrap Killers Joe

    THANK you for your wonderful instructions.  I’m having the following troubles.  Sorry so much text but the email form didn’t save the formatting, so maybe this will be easier to read?

    1.  I put my icon offering the download on my homepage scrapkillers.com

    2.  It takes me to the page I made to enter Name and Email… 
         http://scrapkillers.com/double-your-profit-with-how-to-eliminate-defects/?preview=true&preview_id=152&preview_nonce=fd364fcac2
    … but I want to make them add their PayPal or PayLoadz (I don’t understand the difference) information too so that their $20 will go to my account and they can get the eBook.  Can I do that and if so how?  
                 Regarding #2 above,  WordPress’ contact form automatically puts a 
                 button called “Submit” that appears below the contact name and 
                 email entries.  That button takes you to the same page — it only loop 
                 repeats back to the self-same page.  I want it to take you to the product 
                 delivery page — If I could get the form to put in paypal info they could 
                 get my eBook right away.  Can I make this “Submit” button take the  
                 buyer to the product delivery page when their payment has been made?  

    3.  I created a product delivery page.  
         http://scrapkillers.com/thank-you-for-your-purchase-click-below-to-get-the-e-book/

    4.  How can I make the Paypal Icon appear on my page? I changed my PayPal settings and created my PayPal button and pasted the product delivery web page into step three.  I pasted the Paypal code into my page, and while still in edit mode, when I change back from Text to Visual view, I can see the Paypal icon.  But when I then click Update, the icon does not appear on the web page.  Then when I return to the Text view, I see the following code has replaced the code I put in there:  
     

      How can I make the Paypal Icon appear on my page?   

    I’m using Safari.

  • Scrapkiller Joe

    Sorry my question was so long, and in fact my biggest (maybe only) problem is #4.  scrap.killers@yahoo.com

  • William

    This post is terrific! Just one question:

    Once someone pays and is redirected to the “delivery page”, can he/she copy that url and share it with more people for free?

    Thanks!

  • Walter

    Thanks a lot Heather for the useful information. I really appreciate.

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  • David

    This some very great information you shared. Thank You very much for taken the timie to post it. David

  • http://www.heatherporter.com/ Heather Porter

    Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.  Glad it helped.

  • Stacey

    Hello,
    I think the information covered in the site is great! I’m not showing
    the html option on my wordpress website. What does this mean I picked the wrong theme
    when I initally set up my site. How can I get the html button so I can put the paypal button
    on one of my pages?

  • http://www.heatherporter.com/ Heather Porter

    Hi William.  Newer versions of WordPress are showing the word “text” where the “html” tab was.  Are you seeing this?  It is the same thing.

  • James Calloway

    Thanks Heather! Following your steps was easier than I thought. I ran into a problem because I couldn’t figure out how to upload my ebook onto my server. I got around it by using Payzli to host the file and then I took the link and used that instead. Thanks again!

  • http://www.heatherporter.com/ Heather Porter

    You are welcome.  Glad you worked it out.  You brought up a good point.  You can use the media section in WordPress to upload your file and grab the url from there.  If your hosting company sets file limits you can use your Cpanel and then File Manager to load it and grab the url from there. Or like you have done using other tools to host your file.  Thanks for sharing.

  • maraith

    Is the process for setting up a “special report” download the same?  For example, when someone signs up in the opt-in box and gets a free report…how do I set up the automatic download?

  • http://www.heatherporter.com/ Heather Porter

    Yes, similar process. Follow Step 4 from above when creating your page that you put your report on so search engines can’t find it.  It is ideal to place the report on that page as an image that links to the PDF.  You can upload your PDF into your media library in WordPress or by using your Cpanel.  Grab the url of where the file is and link the image to it. 

    I recommend only sending people to that page by sending a link to it in your first thank you email auto-responder that is linked to your web form.  If you set this new page as a thank you page in your opt-in form and only have single opt-in turned on then people could enter fake emails and get straight to your download.  Also on this free report page make sure and let people know what else they can do with you by suggesting your most popular blog posts, including your social media links, etc. under the download image.  

    Hope this helps!

  • Dan

    Helpful site, thanks for the tips :-)

  • Tracy

    Great post, very helpful. I’d like to sell my eBook with an added bonus and an upsell. You know, like “order now and I’ll also include a blah blah blah”.  I’d also like to add an upsell like, “Since you ordered my eBook, you might also like my yadda yadda.” Can PayPall accommodate bonuses and upsells? 

  • http://www.heatherporter.com/ Heather Porter

    Hey Tracy. If you add a bonus it should be included in the main payment button and uses as an enticement to buy. Paypal does not let you do what is called a one-click upsell.  You will just need to place a new button on the thank you page under your upsell offer and the person will need to pay just as they have for the first item.  More robust shopping cart tools and systems like Office Autopilot and Infusionsoft allow you to do things like this, but not Paypal by itself.

  • Bryan

    what paypal account do i need for this? business or premier? Because when i click on merchant services option it just tells me to sign up? When I already have a personal account, so i upgraded to a business account and still dont have options when clicking merchant services.
    If you could me know thanks.

  • Miquel J

    Hi,

    I read your interesting article about how sell ebooks.

    I have the website http://www.howsellebooks.com
    with one interesting affiliate program where you can earn 60% sales
    promoting my ebook about how sell ebooks. I think than it’s very
    interesting for you.

    Thanks.

  • dowava

    Nice tips! Generating useful information such as this article is, will boost traffic to your site! Keep on good work…

  • Abs

    Just to help those having trouble with selling ebooks on WordPress.

    There is an alternative where you can host your ebook elsewhere and link to the Payment page. To get a better idea of what I mean, here is an app I created that is free to use: https://payhip.com/

  • Ian Moore

    Thank you kindly, this post was well timed for me. Great read and very precise :)

  • Paula

    Very cool instructions – thank you!

  • shma

    Thanks a lot for this useful information.

  • Karrie

    Thanks a million

  • Erica

    I found your instructions to be extremely beneficial and this to be an easier way to sell my eBooks than with a plugin on WordPress! Thanks so much! I was able to set up two eBooks in less than half an hour!

  • http://www.heatherporter.com/ Heather Porter

    Glad I could help!