15 Essential WordPress Plugins (and 5 That Will Just Blow Your Mind)

Photo: j / f / photos on Flickr

Photo: jrbrubaker on Flickr

My Assumptions (And yes, I know the risk)• You have great taste in session choice• You know what a WordPress plugin is• You know how to install & activate one• You’re not here to hear about wordpress.com or multisite installs

“Plugins are really the heart and soul of WordPress for many people.” - Matt Mullenweg

But…which onesshould you use?

Best WordPress Plugins 31,400,000 resultsEssential WordPress Plugins 1,770,000 resultsMust Have WordPress Plugins 6,280,000 resultsVital WordPress Plugins 1,660,000 resultsDesert Island WordPress Plugins 2,170,000 results Source: Google search results 9/22/12

It’s ridiculously subjective Photos: dev null & waltarrrrron Flickr

“The WordPress plugins you can’t live without are the WordPress plugins you can’t live without.” - Lorelle VanFossen, Lorelle on WordPress

WP Plugin Search Results default to relevance

My CriteriaI’ve included plugins that:• I have used (or someone I trust has)• solve a speciﬁc problem or meet a need• are updated & supported• are easy to use & conﬁgure• are free (for the most part)

Plugin Directory Plugins in the “oﬃcial” directory are only bydevelopers who have agreed to play by the rules

Updates toDirectory Listings Spring 2012

Do Your Homework• Check compatibility• Last updated• Rating• Support

How Many is Too Many?Depends on if your plugins:• Are extremely large• Utilize 3rd party resources• Are out dated or poorly coded

Beware ofObsolescenceKnow when to say goodbye

Keep WordPress Updated

Keep WordPress UpdatedEven minor versions. They contain bug ﬁxes and security patches.

Keep YourPlugins Updated

Or else… Photo: kevin.is.a.sadpanda.eu

Changelog TabMakes it easy to view what has changed in new version

1. AkismetDuh, right? But it is vital.

2. WordPress SEO by YoastSEO smart so you don’t always have to be

3. ShareThisClean, simple sharing + analytics

4. After the Deadline Spelling, style & grammar police

5. Yet AnotherRelated Posts PluginEncourage deeper dives into your content

6. WP-PageNaviPage navigation as it should have been

7. Social Media WidgetAll your social links, all in one place

8. BackUpWordPress Um… backs up your stuﬀ

8b. VaultpressAlternate premium option ($15+)

9. WP-DBManager Database care & maintenance

10. Contact Form 7 Easy, feature-rich, submission options,3rd party integration/add-ons, customizable

10b. Gravity Forms Alternate premium option ($39)

11. Find ReplaceBecause sometimes you need to

12. RedirectionQuick, easy, can be a life-saver

13. GoogleAnalyticatorStats on your dashboard

14. Maintenance Mode In case of emergency, activate plugin

15. Easing SliderSimple, easy, clean slider solution

Photo: jrbrubaker on Flickr

+1: liveblogMake any post a liveblog, viewers get new entries instantly & automatically with no refresh

+2: editorial calendar Drag & drop post scheduling

+3: widget contextShow or hide widgets based on page/post type

+4: wp google fonts Crazy easy to add & use Google fonts

+5: fluid video embeds YouTube auto-embed ﬁx, full-width

Now It’s Your Turn What are your favorites? Which do you hate?Need other recommendations? Have questions? Photo: a2gemma on Flickr

Thank you! Mykl Roventine designer of things myklroventine.com @myklroventine Headshot: Glimpses of Soul Photography

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15 Essential WordPress Plugins (and 5 That Will Just Blow Your Mind)

by Mykl Roventine on Sep 22, 2012

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