This guide covers the usage of PayPal buttons created using the PayPal WP Button Manager for WordPress plugin.  If you need help installing or configuring the plugin prior to getting to this point, please see our docs specific to that.

Video Demo

General Documentation

Create a New PayPal Button
  1. From the WordPress admin panel, click on the PayPal Buttons tab from the menu.
  2. Click the Add PayPal Button button at the top of the page.
  3. Enter a title/name for your button.  This is for you to see only, and can help to easily find buttons when you have many of them saved.
  4. Choose which company / PayPal account you would like to create this button for.
  5. Follow Steps 1 – 3 in the button wizard to create your PayPal button.
    1. You may choose between various types of buttons (ie. Buy Now, Shopping Cart, Donation, etc.) and the options on the form will update based on the type of button you are creating.  Fill out the fields appropriate for your button and then move to Step 2.
    2. Keep the “Save button at PayPal” box checked to make the button a hosted button.  This provides better security than non-hosted buttons because the pricing details and seller details are not included in the HTML code that goes on the website.  It is recommended that you keep this checked.
    3. The final step in the button wizard allows you to include optional details for the button which you may or may not need.  Set the radio buttons per your requirement, and check the boxes to enable a Cancel URL, Return URL, or IPN URL.
  6. Click “Create PayPal Button” to submit the API request to PayPal and create the button according to the options you have configured in the button wizard.

PayPal WP Button Manager Button Wizard

PayPal WP Button Manager Button Wizard

Place a PayPal Button on a WordPress Page or Post
After your button is created you have multiple options for displaying the button within WordPress pages or posts as well as in an email or a basic link.

  1. The easiest way to place a button in WordPress pages or posts is to use the PayPal Shortcodes drop-down list in the visual content editor.  All of the buttons you have created will show up in this list.  Just place your cursor where you would like the button to show up and add click the button from the shortcodes list to add it.
  2. You may use standard WordPress shortcode syntax with the button ID as the only required attribute.  Simply copythe shortcode from the button details page and paste it in your page or post content accordingly.
  3. If you would prefer to work with the full HTML snippet created for the button you may copy it from the button details page and paste it in the text editor for any WordPress page or post where you would like it to be displayed.
  4. If you would like to include the button as a general link for email or social media purposes you may copy the URL value from the post details and paste it where you would like it to be used.  This would generally be used outside of WordPress.

PayPal WP Button Manager Button Placement Options

PayPal WP Button Manager Button Placement Options

Managing PayPal Buttons
  1. From the WordPress admin panel, click on the PayPal Buttons tab from the menu.
    • From here can see a list of the PayPal buttons you have created as well as search for any particular button by name.
    • You may also edit or trash buttons the same you would any other WordPress post.
    • If you permanently delete a PayPal button you will be given a message asking if you want to also to delete the button from your PayPal account (if it is a hosted button.)  Say OK to delete the button from WordPress and PayPal, or Cancel to only delete the button from WordPress.

PayPal WP Button Manager - Manage Buttons

PayPal WP Button Manager – Manage Buttons