So, you’ve done the hard work. You’ve poured your expertise, creativity, and time into creating a valuable digital product. It could be anything:

  • A comprehensive ebook or PDF guide.

  • A set of Lightroom presets or design templates.

  • A custom spreadsheet or a small piece of code.

  • A single music track or a sound effects pack.

Your creation is ready for the world. But as you look into how to actually sell it, you’re hit with a wall of complexity. The common advice tells you to install a massive e-commerce platform like WooCommerce, configure dozens of settings, find a theme that supports it, and learn a whole new system.

It feels like using a sledgehammer to hang a picture frame. It doesn’t have to be this complicated.

Today, we’re going to show you how to bypass all that complexity and start selling your digital product directly from your WordPress site in the time it takes to brew a cup of coffee.

The Problem with Traditional E-commerce for Single Products

For a full-blown online store with hundreds of items, a platform like WooCommerce is a powerhouse. But for a creator selling one or a handful of digital files, it’s often overkill. The common pain points are:

  • Bloat and Slowdown: Large e-commerce plugins add dozens of scripts, database tables, and menu items, which can slow down your site.

  • Complex Setup: You have to configure shipping (even if you don’t need it), taxes, store pages, account pages, and more.

  • Steep Learning Curve: You’re forced to learn a new, feature-rich system when all you want is a simple “Buy Now” button.

The Solution: A Lightweight, Focused Tool

The key is to use a tool designed for one job: selling a file. That’s exactly why we built Download Snip. It does away with all the unnecessary features and gives you a direct, secure path from your file to your PayPal account.

Here’s the simple, three-step process.

Step 1: Install and Configure Download Snip (60 seconds)

First, you’ll need to install the plugin.

  1. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.

  2. Search for “Download Snip.”

  3. Install and activate the plugin.

  4. A new “Download Snips” menu will appear. Navigate to Download Snips > Settings.

  5. The only thing you need to do here is enter the email address associated with your PayPal account. Click “Save Changes.”

That’s it. The entire setup is done.

Step 2: Create Your Product (2 minutes)

Now, let’s upload the file you want to sell.

  1. Go to Download Snips > Add New.

  2. Give your product a clear Title (e.g., “My Ultimate SEO Checklist”).

  3. Set the Price (e.g., 9.99).

  4. Click the “Select or Upload File” button and upload your PDF, ZIP, or other digital file.

  5. Click “Publish”.

As soon as you publish, the plugin automatically generates a shortcode for this specific product. You can copy it directly from the “Shortcode” box on the side of the page or from the main “All Download Snips” list.

Step 3: Place Your “Buy Now” Button (30 seconds)

You’re on the final step. Go to any post or page where you want to sell your product.

  1. Edit the post or page.

  2. Add a “Shortcode” block.

  3. Paste the shortcode you copied (e.g., ).

  4. Update or publish the page.

Visit the page, and you’ll see a clean, professional “Buy Now” button. When a customer clicks it, they are taken to PayPal to complete the purchase securely. After payment, our plugin automatically sends them an email with a secure, one-time-use link to download their file.

You’re Officially in Business

Congratulations! In less than five minutes, you’ve turned your digital asset into a source of revenue, without any of the complexity of a traditional e-commerce setup. You’ve kept your site fast, your workflow simple, and your focus on what matters: creating great products.

Ready to sell your first file? Download the free Download Snip plugin from WordPress.org today!