Transform your WordPress site into a powerful lead generation machine. Protect your valuable digital assets while growing your email list automatically.

Lead Magnet Locker is the simple yet powerful solution for WordPress users who want to exchange valuable content for email addresses. Whether you’re offering eBooks, templates, guides, or any digital download, this plugin creates a secure gateway that protects your files while building your audience.

Unlike other complex lead generation tools, Lead Magnet Locker focuses on doing one thing exceptionally well: turning visitors into subscribers through irresistible content offers.

What’s New in 1.3

Your files are safe on every server. Files now live in a private, randomly named folder, so nobody can download them by guessing a URL, on Apache, Nginx, Caddy or IIS.
File names stay hidden. The form on your page no longer shows which file it offers.
Export your leads. Download your whole list, or just your search results, as a CSV file for Excel, Google Sheets or your email marketing tool.
Several forms on one page. Offer a checklist and a guide side by side: every form works.
A cleaner admin. Statistics at the top, a drag-and-drop upload area, a searchable timezone list and a clear “forms visible / hidden” status.
No technical errors for visitors. If a shortcode points to a missing file, only administrators see the message.
Ready for WordPress 7.1 and translatable.

Updating is automatic: your existing files are moved to the private folder, and your shortcodes, download links and statistics keep working.

Why Choose Lead Magnet Locker?

Security-First Approach

Your files are stored in a private, randomly named folder that cannot be reached by direct URL, on Apache, Nginx and other servers alike. The public form never reveals the file name, and only users who provide their email address receive a unique, trackable download link.

Dead Simple Setup

Install, upload your files, add a shortcode. That’s it. No complicated configurations or technical knowledge required.

Complete Control

Set exactly when your offers are available with our powerful scheduling system. Perfect for limited-time promotions or coordinated marketing campaigns.

Detailed Analytics

Track every interaction with comprehensive reporting. See who downloaded what and when, monitor conversion rates, and optimize your lead magnets based on real data.

Professional Presentation

Clean, responsive forms that match your site’s design and convert visitors into subscribers without looking spammy or pushy.

Perfect For

Content Creators offering free resources to build their audience
Course Creators providing sample materials or bonus content
Agencies collecting leads through valuable templates and guides
Bloggers growing their email list with exclusive downloads
Small Businesses capturing leads with helpful resources
Marketing Teams running time-sensitive campaigns

Features

Core Functionality

Secure File Protection: Files stored in a private, randomly named folder with server-level access rules; protected on Apache, Nginx, and other servers
Email Validation: Rejects malformed email addresses before a download link is created
Unique Download Links: Every download gets a secure, trackable URL
Responsive Design: Forms look great on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
AJAX-Powered: Smooth user experience without page reloads

Advanced Scheduling

Date Range Control: Set start and end dates for your campaigns
Start and End Times: Choose the exact time on the start date and on the end date
Timezone Support: Pick the timezone for your schedule from a searchable list (UTC by default)
Real-Time Status: See instantly if your forms are currently active
Site-Wide Schedule: One schedule applies to all your forms at once

Comprehensive Analytics

Download Tracking: Monitor every file request and completion
Email Collection: Build a database of interested prospects
Conversion Metrics: Track success rates and optimize performance
Search & Filter: Find specific records quickly
CSV Export: Download your full lead list (or just your search results) as a CSV file, ready for Excel, Google Sheets, or your email marketing tool

Administrative Power

Clean Dashboard: Overview of all your lead magnets and performance
Multiple Forms: Use as many forms as you like, even several on the same page
File Management: Easy upload and organization system
User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive controls that make sense

Usage

Basic Implementation

Add this shortcode anywhere you want to display a lead capture form:
[lead_magnet file="your-guide.pdf"]

Customization Options

Make it your own with these parameters:
[lead_magnet file="marketing-guide.pdf" title="Get Your Free Marketing Guide" description="Join 5,000+ marketers who use this proven framework" button_text="Download Now"]

Available Parameters:
* file (required): Name of a file uploaded on the Lead Magnet admin page, exactly as shown in the Manage Files list
* title: Custom headline for your form
* description: Compelling description of your offer
* button_text: Call-to-action button text

File Management

Supported File Types:
* PDF, ZIP
* Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
* Images (JPG, PNG, GIF)
* Text files
* Audio (MP3)
* Video (MP4)

Upload Process:
1. Access your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to Lead Magnet.
3. Upload your file in the Upload New File box.
4. Copy its shortcode from the Manage Files list and paste it into a page or post.

Campaign Scheduling

Time-Limited Offers:
1. Go to Lead Magnet Settings.
2. Enable Date & Time Trigger.
3. Set your start and end dates.
4. Set the time on the start date and on the end date (forms stay visible continuously in between).
5. Your forms automatically appear and disappear.

The schedule is global: it applies to every lead magnet form on your site, whatever file it offers.

Use Cases:
* Launch week promotions
* Webinar follow-up resources
* Seasonal content offers
* Product launch campaigns
* Limited-time bonuses

Analytics & Reporting

Track Everything:
* Total email submissions
* Unique subscriber count
* Download completion (conversion) rate
* Who requested which file, and when they downloaded it

Export & Analysis:
* Export the download history to CSV with one click from the History page
* Search records by email or filename, then export only the matching results
* Compare files by searching the history for each file name

Frequently Used Hooks

lead_magnet_max_file_size — Filter the max allowed upload size (in bytes).
lead_magnet_accept_legacy_file_field — Filter (bool). Whether to accept the pre-1.3.0 file form field, sent by pages cached before the update. Default: true for 30 days after the upgrade moved your files (always true with LML_DISABLE_STORAGE_MIGRATION), false otherwise. Return false to stop accepting it once your page cache has been cleared, or true to keep accepting it.

Developer Functions

lead_magnet_locker_file_exists( $file ) — Returns true when a lead magnet file (the shortcode’s file value) is available. Use it instead of checking a path under wp-content/uploads/: since 1.3.0 files live in a private folder. Example: if ( function_exists( 'lead_magnet_locker_file_exists' ) && lead_magnet_locker_file_exists( 'guide.pdf' ) ) { ... }

Configuration Constants

LML_DISABLE_STORAGE_MIGRATION — Define as true in wp-config.php to keep files in the pre-1.3.0 folder (no private folder, no migration). Only needed if you must stay able to downgrade to 1.2.x; it removes the extra protection on Nginx.

Privacy

Lead Magnet Locker is designed with privacy in mind:
* Email addresses are stored in your own WordPress database.
* No data is transmitted to external services.
* You maintain complete control over subscriber information: search, export (CSV), and delete records from the History page.

Lead Magnet Locker collects personal data (email addresses). Depending on where you and your visitors are, laws such as the GDPR may require you to inform visitors and obtain their consent; make sure your privacy policy covers this data. The plugin does not yet add a consent checkbox or integrate with the WordPress personal data export/erase tools.

Credits

Developed for the WordPress community by G.Maccario. Special thanks to all users who provided feedback and feature requests.

Lead Magnet Locker

About this plugin