Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to download a PDF after submitting an email in WordPress?

Do you have a PDF on your WordPress website that you want your visitors to download only after submitting their email address? This is a great tactic to build your email list while offering valuable content to your audience. In this article, we will go through the steps to create a download button that prompts an email input form before revealing the PDF download link.

Step 1: Create a Download Button

First, you need to add a download button to your website. You can use a plugin like 'Buttons X' or 'MaxButtons' to create a button that links to your PDF file. Once you have added the button, copy the URL of the PDF file.

Step 2: Install a Lead Generation Plugin

Next, you need a lead generation plugin that can prompt an email input form when the download button is clicked. There are various plugins available, but we recommend 'OptinMonster' or 'Sumo' for this purpose. Install and activate the plugin of your choice.

Step 3: Create an Email Input Form

Using your lead generation plugin, create an email input form that appears when the download button is clicked. The form should ask for the user's email address and include a call-to-action that encourages them to subscribe. Some plugins allow you to customize the design and wording of the form.

Step 4: Set Up Download Link

After the email is submitted, your lead generation plugin should redirect the user to a thank you page. On this page, add the download link for the PDF file. To make it exclusive, you can use a shortcode to display the download link only to users who have submitted their email. You can use plugins like 'Download Monitor' or 'Easy Digital Downloads' to set up the shortcode.

Step 5: Test Your Setup

Once you have completed all the above steps, test your setup by clicking on the download button and submitting your email. Check that the thank you page appears and that the download link is exclusive for users who have input their email address.

In conclusion, this method allows you to share valuable content with your audience while building your email list. By following these simple steps and using the right plugins, you can easily set up a download button that prompts an email input form before unlocking a PDF file.