Are you tired of using third-party platforms like Dropbox or OneDrive to host files and share them with users? It’s time to create a separate website to share your WordPress media files. This new site also gives users the opportunity to upload files to your site.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of creating a file sharing website in WordPress. But before that, we’ll quickly discuss the reasons why you should design a new site instead of using your current one.
Let’s get started!
Why Create a File Sharing Site WordPress
WordPress provides a built-in media library that allows you to store images, videos, audio, and other media files. Anytime you add a photo to your content, you must first upload that file to the library, before inserting it into a page or post.
In fact, not all file types need to be placed there. Websites that offer private file sharing for clients and those that allow users to upload files are excellent examples that best describe the use of file sharing.
Create a secure client portal
Documents such as invoices or design projects should not be kept in your library, of course. It’s because not everyone on your team can see these sensitive documents, like trainees or people from HR, for example.
A file-sharing WordPress site helps clients leave comments on their projects. They can easily log in, view project files or review the invoice, and let you know which section meets your needs or where you need improvements through comments. You can get rid of hundreds of back and forth emails and never miss a customer requirement.
Create a private members area
File sharing websites are perfect for members. online training providers. Your students can easily receive training materials and upload their assignment files. You don’t have to worry about confusing your own file in the library with theirs.
You might upgrade users to premium members so they can access certain private eBooks or video tutorials. You can protect your files through user roles and store them on file sharing sites. Since then, anyone who wants to access them has to create an account and log in to the website.
3 Steps to Create a WordPress File Sharing Portal
There are 3 steps you need to take to build a complete WordPress file sharing site from scratch. Just like any other WordPress site, you first need to buy a domain and choose a hosting service, then build a basic website with front pages.
After that, use the PDA Gold plugin to protect and manage your media files. . Ultimately, I used Contact Form 7 to create a file upload form for users. Let’s go through this process one by one.
Step 1: Set Up Your WordPress Site
WordPress.org comes as a free self-hosted platform that allows you to build your website with one user interface. friendly. You can also use plugins and support plugins to customize your site.
However, to get your site ready on the internet, you need to pay for the domain and web hosting services like Bluehost or Hostgator. Once you sign up, WordPress will be automatically installed for you.
Next, you need to choose a theme to personalize your site and embellish it with a great visual appearance. WordPress has some built-in themes including Twenty Seventeen, Twenty Nineteen, Twenty Twenty. It is recommended to find a more appealing theme for your site in the directory, depending on your business field and niche.
It is also important to add content for your site, be it landing pages or blog posts. You should start with some important pages like home page, about us, contact us, etc.
Now you can login to the website and add new files via Media Library. Simply go to Media → Add New to drag and drop new images or videos to your WordPress library.
Step 2 : Use the PDA Gold plugin to protect and share WordPress media files
Any file uploaded to your WordPress library will have a unique URL. To share a media file, you need to get its URL and send it to users via email, messaging, or other platforms.
In fact, all types of users have the right to access your file as long as they have the right to link. Since you only want customers or members to see images and videos on your file sharing site, this feature might put your files security at risk.
That’s why you need the help of the Prevent plugin. Direct Access (PDA) Gold to protect your files effectively and manage their access permissions.
The plugin empowers you to block the original URL of the file and replace it with a protected link that can only be accessed by the administrator, by default. You can also grant protected link access to other roles, depending on your needs.
If you don’t want users to waste time logging in and viewing the file, the plugin makes it easy for you to share them via the private download links feature. You generate private links and send them to users so they can view and download them.
In addition, these private download links are available at a certain time or with a number of clicks. That being said, they will expire and become a 404 page not found after that.
You can refer to our documentation to get a better idea about original, protected and private download links.
How to Install and Get Started with the PDA Gold Add-on
This guide will walk you through the installation process of the add-on from start to finish:
- Download the PDA Gold Add-on as a zip file
- Open Plugins → Add New in your WordPress admin panel
- Click Upload Plugin to choose the file zip you have downloaded
- Enter the license key sent to your purchase email and activate the co
- Go to Media → Library
- Find your desired file and click “Set File Protection” in the “Prevent Shortcut” column to protect it.
Now it shows you a file protection management form to create private links and adjust your download limit and expiration time. You can create as many download links as you want.
Step 3: Create a form for users to upload files
A file sharing website does not mean that, as the owner of the site, you share files only with users. It is where they can also provide you with your documents. A good example of this is students submitting their test answers or customers uploading a screenshot of the problem to their project.
We recommend using the WPForms plugin to create a custom form for your site. Follow the guide below as a step-by-step guide:
- Open Plugins → Add New in your WordPress navigation menu
- Search for the WPForms plugin in the keyword box
- Install and activate the plugin. A new section, WPForms, is now added to your admin sidebar. Click there.
- Select a form template from the list. We should choose “Single Contact Form” in this case.
- Add the “File UpLoad” field to your form in the Fancy Fields section. This feature is available only in the premium version, so please remember to update your plugin.
- Submit the Form
That that’s all! Your users can freely upload their files to your site now.
Ready to create your own file sharing site?
A file sharing site helps you give customers and members access to their private images and videos without affecting the current business website. You don’t have to worry about cluttering your library with user documents.
We’ve broken down the process into 3 easy steps to follow, from buying a domain and choosing a web hosting service to protecting your files and send them to users. Lately, create forms for users to upload their files to your site.
PDA Gold makes it a perfect solution to help you protect your WordPress images, eBooks, videos and other files in a simple way. but effective. Get PDA Gold for your file sharing site today!
.