Has anyone struggled to get their plugin noticed on the WordPress repository but then figured out a way to make it gain traction?
I just got mine approved on the repository… I know people want it because I’ve seen a lot of posts over the years asking for something like this. But it seems like it’s really tough for new plugins to get any attention now, unless they’re coming from big WordPress companies.
Is your plugin showing up when you search for the terms you expect? If not, did you include those keywords in your readme.txt file?
If there are tons of similar plugins ranking before yours, it’ll be hard to stand out unless your idea is unique.
A lot of my plugin traffic actually comes from GitHub. Have you listed yours anywhere else?
@Lyric
Yeah, I’m ranking at the top for my tags. I’m getting some downloads, but I feel like it would have been way more if I had launched a year ago.
I went through all 2,000 plugins added in the last year, and the only ones that took off were from devs who already had a following.
I sent you a DM too.
From my experience, it all comes down to marketing outside of the repository. I’ve been doing this for 8 years and have a handful of plugins listed, and unless I drive traffic myself, they barely get noticed.
The search function is pretty bad. I’m not sure how they rank things, but a couple of my plugins don’t even show up properly for their exact name. The ones I didn’t bother promoting just sit there collecting dust.
For the ones I actually care about, I’ve had to get people talking about them first—then the downloads started rolling in.
@Blake
That makes sense. I was wondering if this was a new problem, but I guess it’s always been like this. Thanks for the insight!
What have you done to get the word out? I don’t know much about plugin marketing, but as a user, I usually find plugins through YouTube videos and Facebook groups. A lot of times, I don’t even know I need a plugin until I see someone talking about it.
@Griff
Right now, all my downloads are coming from people searching the repository.
But I noticed that no plugins from the past year have gained traction unless they came from an established developer who already had a big plugin… which is why I asked.
It makes me wonder about the future of WordPress if new developers can’t break through.
Which FB groups and YT channels do you follow?
@Joss
Yeah, the big names definitely have an advantage. People always say, ‘Before using a plugin, check how long it’s been around and who built it.’ That makes it hard for newer ones to gain momentum.
What does your plugin do?
Some good groups to check out:
@Griff
It’s a customer portal with a status update feed and custom Stripe payments based on project details. I couldn’t find anything out there that did this, so I built it.
Appreciate the recommendations!
@Joss
Your explanation here might be part of the issue. I build a lot of WordPress sites, but it’s not immediately clear what problem this solves for users. Can you send me the link?
@Tatum
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The WordPress repository exists to store and distribute plugins, not to market them. Just listing your plugin there doesn’t automatically get it in front of people. The search engine isn’t designed to boost new plugins.
If you want more people to find it, you’ll need to market it elsewhere. Most users don’t randomly browse the repository—they hear about plugins through YouTube, blogs, and social media. That’s where you should focus your efforts.
@Tatum
Appreciate the response!
I guess I use the repository differently than most people. When I need a plugin, I test every single one and check how well they’re documented and maintained.
I wasn’t asking about marketing outside the repo, just curious if anyone had success with organic discovery. After looking through 2,000 plugins from the past year and seeing none take off, I think you’re right.
But I’d still love to hear from anyone who managed to grow their plugin just from the WordPress repository alone.
Just adding your plugin to the directory helps, but it won’t be enough on its own. If your plugin serves a very specific niche, think about where those users hang out and how you can reach them.
It’s better to have 100 installs from people who will actually pay for your service than 10,000 from people who never will.
Also, things take time. If you don’t have a budget for promotion, you’ll have to rely on word of mouth, and that takes patience. Get involved in WordPress groups, answer questions, and slowly build awareness.
@Peyton
Really appreciate this!
I’m not in it for the money—I’m all about open source.
I just want people to use my plugin. There are so many freelancers who could run their own businesses instead of relying on third-party platforms that take a cut. I just want to help them break free.
Even if your plugin is amazing, it won’t go anywhere without some kind of marketing.