Editorial note: This old WPArena post has been rewritten into a current plugin-promotion checklist. The old advice was too thin for today, so this version focuses on ethical promotion, product proof, support quality, and WordPress.org readiness.
Start with a plugin people can trust
Promotion cannot compensate for a weak plugin. Before launch, make sure the plugin has a clear use case, a tested onboarding flow, a changelog, screenshots, documentation, support expectations, and a clean uninstall path. If the plugin is listed on WordPress.org, read the official Plugin Developer Handbook and the Plugin Directory guidelines before pitching it.
Build the launch assets
- A short problem statement: who the plugin is for and what pain it solves.
- A demo page or sandbox with the plugin active.
- Clean screenshots and a short product video if the workflow is visual.
- Comparison notes that are fair and specific, not competitor-bashing.
- Documentation for setup, troubleshooting, pricing, privacy, and uninstalling.
Promote without burning trust
Use your WordPress.org listing, docs, changelog, launch post, email list, community groups, and targeted outreach to relevant site owners. Avoid spam comments, forced review prompts, fake scarcity, or exaggerated claims. Publishers and users are more likely to cover a plugin when the pitch includes a real demo, support contact, transparent pricing, and honest limitations.
Measure what matters
Track activation, onboarding completion, support tickets, feature requests, refund reasons, and documentation searches. Those signals tell you whether the promotion is attracting the right users and where the product needs improvement before the next campaign.
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