Skip to content
HelSup Help Center
Help Center/Getting started
Getting started

Install HelSup on WordPress

Install the plugin package, activate HelSup and open your support workspace for the first time.

3 min read · HelSup product documentation
On this page
  1. Overview
  2. When to use this
  3. Where to find the controls
  4. Who can make these changes
  5. Before you begin
  6. Follow these steps
  7. Settings reference
  8. Example workflow
  9. Good practices
  10. Important considerations
  11. If something does not work

Overview

HelSup is a WordPress plugin. Place the elegantsupport folder in wp-content/plugins, or upload the release ZIP from Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin. After files are on disk, activate it from the Plugins list. The plugin creates its own tables (your WordPress table prefix followed by helsup_support_) on activation.

When to use this

A correct install is the only way the admin SPA, REST namespace elegant-support/v1, and queue hook elegant_support_run_queue become available. Skipping WordPress activation leaves tables and rewrite rules incomplete.

Where to find the controls

WordPress admin → Plugins. After activation, open wp-admin → HelSup (hash routes such as #/, #/inbox, #/docs).

Who can make these changes

A site administrator with install_plugins and activate_plugins. Agents never install the plugin; they only use the SPA after an admin activates it.

Before you begin

Confirm WordPress 6.2+, PHP 8.0+, and writable uploads. Optional later: PHP IMAP for inbound email, WooCommerce for order context, an AI provider key, and system cron hitting wp-cron.php. None of those are required to finish install.

Follow these steps

  1. Upload the plugin ZIP using WordPress Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, or copy the extracted folder into wp-content/plugins/elegantsupport.
  2. Activate HelSup.
  3. Open HelSup in WordPress admin.
  4. Complete or skip onboarding.
  5. Open Settings → System → System and review System Status. For a blank workspace, check browser and PHP errors and missing assets before changing permalinks; permalink repair addresses route 404 errors.

Settings reference

The Plugins row shows the plugin name, installed plugin version, and Activate / Deactivate / Delete. Delete uses WordPress plugin deletion; tables and options stay unless Remove data on uninstall is enabled in Settings → System → System.

Example workflow

On a staging site you upload elegantsupport.zip, activate, then land on #/ and the onboarding wizard. You skip Email and AI, set the support name, and open Inbox.

Good practices

Keep a backup of wp-content/uploads and the database before replacing a previous copy. After an update, hard-refresh once so the SPA picks up new assets/js files.

Important considerations

Do not drop wp_helsup_support_ tables by hand unless you intend a wipe. Deleting the plugin from Plugins does not erase tickets unless Remove data on uninstall is on. Export tickets first if you might need them.

If something does not work

White screen: enable WP_DEBUG, check PHP 8.0+, and look for a fatal in another mu-plugin. Menu missing: confirm the plugin is Network-activated on multisite if that is how you installed it. REST 404 after install: flush permalinks.

Continue learning

Check system requirements→Activate and manage your HelSup license→Check System Status→

Let’s solve it together.

Can’t find what you need? Our support team can help with your next step.

Contact support ↗
LIFETIME PARTNER POLICY

One introduction.
A lifetime of shared growth.

Introduce HelSup to your customers, readers or community. Earn 30% on their first purchase and 20% on every subsequent purchase and renewal throughout their customer lifetime with HelSup.

Read our invitation to partners ↗
30%FIRST PURCHASE
20%Every subsequent
purchase & renewal

From recommendation to reward

  1. 01

    Get your personal link

    Sign in to your HelSup customer account and open Partner program to access your referral link.

  2. 02

    Recommend with confidence

    Share the link in a useful review, tutorial, customer proposal or with your community. Explain your partner relationship.

  3. 03

    Track your commission

    Follow attributed purchases and commission status in your partner dashboard. Eligible commissions are reviewed before payout.

YOUR LINK, IN PRACTICE

What does a referral link look like?

https://helsup.com/?ref=HS-EXAMPLE

Here, HS-EXAMPLE illustrates a partner code. Your dashboard gives you your own code and complete link. Copy that full link and share it with the customer; do not use this example as your personal link.

For example: “Looking for a customer support solution? Explore HelSup through my partner link: [paste your personal link here].” When an eligible customer purchases through your link, their first purchase earns 30%; later purchases and renewals earn 20%.

Open my partner dashboard →
YOUR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP KEEPS WORKING

A $100 first purchase earns $30.
A later $100 purchase or renewal earns $20.

Illustrative amounts, after discounts and excluding tax.

A customer relationship that lasts

30% first, 20% thereafter. Receive 30% on the customer’s first eligible paid purchase, then 20% on subsequent purchases and renewals throughout that customer’s lifetime on HelSup.

From link to lifetime attribution. The initial referral link is remembered for 30 days in the same browser. Once the referred customer’s first paid purchase is recorded, their partner relationship continues without needing another referral click.

Completed payments. Commission is calculated after discounts and before tax. Free orders and self-referrals do not qualify. Refunds reduce or reverse the associated commission.

Review and payout. Earnings appear as pending until reviewed by HelSup. Payout is processed manually after approval. Contact partner support for payment arrangements.