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If you're looking to sell digital products on your WordPress website, Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) is the go-to plugin. It's not just great; it's a complete e-commerce solution designed specifically for digital goods. In this guide, we'll walk you through the setup process of the Easy Digital Downloads plugin, from installation to your first sale.
What Are Digital Products?
Digital products are downloadable files or digital goods, such as spreadsheets, e-books, music, software, and online courses, that can be sold and delivered online. You can also use free downloads as lead magnets to collect a reader's email address. Setting up your WordPress site to sell these products requires a reliable digital download plugin, and Easy Digital Downloads fits the bill perfectly.
Installing the Easy Digital Downloads Plugin
- Access Your WordPress Dashboard: Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to Plugins: In the sidebar menu, click on “Plugins,” then select “Add New.”
- Search for Easy Digital Downloads: In the search bar, type “Easy Digital Downloads” and hit enter.
- Install the Plugin: When you see the Easy Digital Downloads plugin, click “Install Now.”
- Activate the Plugin: Once installation is complete, click “Activate.”
Now, you've got the free version of Easy Digital Downloads installed and ready to roll. But wait, there's more!
Exploring the Free Plugin
The free version of Easy Digital Downloads offers a plethora of features to get you started with selling digital files on your WordPress site:
You'll find the setting under “Downloads” > “Settings”. Click through each setting to add your business name and address, your currency, your payment gateways, etc.
When you go to your “Pages” tab in the admin area, you'll see that EDD has added the pages that you will need to sell your products.
What are the features of the EDD free version?
- Single Product: Create and sell a single digital product easily.
- Unlimited Products: You can sell as many products as you would like.
- Checkout Process: Provide a smooth and secure checkout process for your customers.
- Download Links: Automatically generate secure download links for your customers.
- Purchase Receipts: Send purchase receipts to your customers' email addresses.
- Email Settings: Customize email notifications and settings for order confirmations and purchase receipts.
- File Download Limits: Control the number of times customers can download files.
- Complete E-commerce Solution: Easy Digital Downloads offers a full-featured shopping cart and support for popular payment gateways like PayPal Standard.
Setting Up Your First Product
Now that you have Easy Digital Downloads up and running, let's create your first digital product:
- Navigate to EDD Plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, you'll now see an “EDD” menu item. Click on it.
- Add New Product: Click “Add New” to create a new product.
- Product Details: Fill in product details such as the name, description, and price.
- File Downloads: Upload your digital files (e.g., PDF documents, zip files) for customers to download.
- Purchase Button: Customize the purchase button text and style.
- Publish: Click “Publish” to make your product live.
You now have your first digital product available for sale on your WordPress site!
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Going Premium with EDD
While the free version of Easy Digital Downloads provides a solid foundation for selling digital goods, the premium version takes your e-commerce store to the next level. Here are some of the premium features and extensions available:
- Variable Pricing: Offer different pricing options for your products.
- License Keys: Manage software licensing and activation with ease.
- Recurring Payments Extension: Set up subscriptions and recurring payments for online courses or memberships.
- Customizable Discount Codes: Create and manage discount codes to boost sales.
- Wide Variety of Add-ons: Extend the functionality of EDD with premium add-ons for additional payment gateways and integrations.
Easy Digital Downloads vs WooCommerce
Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) and WooCommerce are both popular e-commerce solutions for WordPress, but they cater to different niches within the online selling ecosystem. EDD specializes in digital products, making it the go-to choice for those primarily selling downloadable items like e-books, software, or online courses. It offers a streamlined and focused approach with features tailored to the unique needs of digital goods vendors, such as seamless file delivery and easy download management.
On the other hand, WooCommerce is probably one of the most well-known WordPress plugins and is a versatile e-commerce plugin suitable for a wide range of products, both physical and digital. It provides a more comprehensive e-commerce toolkit, making it the preferred option for those running diverse online stores with a mix of product types. The choice between EDD and WooCommerce ultimately depends on the nature of your products and your specific e-commerce requirements.
With the free Easy Digital Downloads plugin for WordPress, you can quickly and easily set up your own online store to sell digital products. Whether you're selling e-books, music, software, or online courses, EDD has you covered. Plus, if you're looking for more advanced features, the premium version and a wide variety of add-ons are available to take your digital sales to the next level.
Don't depend on Etsy or other online marketplaces to sell your digital products. Easy Digital Downloads can turn your WordPress website into a thriving online store!
