If you're looking for how to add a PayPal button to your Squidoo lens, here's how. The step-by-step process described here will create a link that is compatible with you lens, while keeping your account details safe and secure. For advanced users, there is also some instructions on how to create a graphic button that links to PayPal.
How to Add a PayPal Link
These instructions assume that you already have a PayPal account, and you are familiar with creating Web Payment buttons.
- Select one of the following types of buttons to build:
- Buy Now Buttons
- Subscriptions & Recurring Payments
- Donations
You will be required to enter in your PayPal details.
Please check that the URL in the address bar is correct before you login! - Fill in all the details for the item you are selling. This needs to include a name and a price at least, and a fee for postage if relevant.
- At the end of Step 1, select to use the "Secure merchant account ID". This ensures that your email address won't be seen by other people, yet allowing you to receive payments. New!
- Complete the optional steps 2 and 3 if you need to, and then click on "Create Button".
- You will see two pieces of HTML code. The first is for web pages, and the second is for emails. It is the second piece of code that you need to copy.
- Paste the link into your lens, wrapping it up in suitable HTML tags.
(If you don't know how, read up on Making a Hyperlink).
If you want a graphic button, then there are some instructions further down this page on how to do that too. You can
Why is this secure?
The link that you will have created in the steps above will contain a secure merchant account ID is a number that only PayPal can match to your real email address in your profile. Your primary email address is never displayed, so it cannot be used by spammers. You can post this link on to your Squidoo Lens without worrying about the privacy or security of your PayPal account.
Advanced: Creating a PayPal Button
A plain text link for your PayPal Web Payments is rather boring, so here's how you can get a pretty button for your visitors to use, much like the one that PayPal generates for websites (example on the right).
- Select a different button image when you are on the first page of the creation wizard.
- When PayPal generates the HTML code for you, look though the HTML version of the code for a line beginning: <img src="
- Copy the URL of that image.
- Create your own piece of HTML using the template below, and insert the URL from the Email Link in the HREF="", and the URL of the button image in the SRC="":
<A HREF=""><IMG SRC=""></A>
- Expand your HTML further with appropriate TARGET, WIDTH and HEIGHT and ALT elements, if you wish.
Example Buttons
Here are just a few of the buttons that PayPal provides for use with their links. They do have other buttons available with alternate text, for example for Subscriptions and Donations. You will get a chance to review these during the link creation process, and all you need to do is copy the image URLs to put in to your HTML.
Reader Feedback
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
Thank you for your quick response on Squidu. You are always so helpful. One more question:
How do I set this up so that the person buying pays the shipping? I am sure that it will cost differently depending on where it is shipped to?
Posted June 05, 2009
wyrm11268 wrote...
Did not know that I could do this. Thank you very much worked great.
Posted May 18, 2009
sandyspider wrote...
I added this as a feature to my "Squidoo Widgets, PayPal and Tools" lens. Thanks for your helpful information.
Posted May 18, 2009
MyDinoShirts wrote...
Nice Lens...I like the detailed help with the HTML code it will save me time from figuring it out. I will try it on my t-shirt lens. If you get a chance checkout Paystr for Online Payments, it is another useful way to utilize PayPal.
Posted May 10, 2009
thefluffanutta wrote...
in reply to JSB1022 Nope - the #ID is unique to each button you create, and the only thing anyone can do with it is send you money. You email address will appear on the checkout page on PayPal, but you can replace this with your own logo if you wish.
Posted April 20, 2009
JSB1022 wrote...
Anyone can right-click the link and read your (or my) ID number given to us by paypal. Is this bad? Can anyone do something with my ID #?
Posted April 19, 2009
cleona wrote...
Thanks much! I just created a donation button on my lens. Yes, I'm raising money to help pay for my aunt's cancer treatments.
Posted April 19, 2009
rileywest wrote...
Hello Fluffanutta:
I'll never forget the first time I attempted to put a PayPal Button on my page. I couldn't even find the place inside payPal to do it!
I called one of their "help" people. They were VERY HARD to understand AND every time I asked a specific question I had to endure "hold music" while they asked somebody who might know!
I eventually DID get it worked out, however, and I detailed the process like an IRS audit. Including how to get the final sales page in PayPal to have a link to the download page!
Good Job!
Riley West - An Internet Marketer In The Making.
Posted April 18, 2009
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