WordCamp Boston Presentation on Plugins for WordPress 8-2014 by Reiko Beach #wcbos #bostonwp

1. WordPress
SO MANY PLUGINS, NOT
ENOUGH TIME
WordCamp Boston
Presented by: Reiko Beach
Aug 23, 2014

2. What we will cover:
• Plugin vs. Widget
• Suggested Free Plugins
• Other Plugins
• Finding Plugins
• Backup
• Security

3. What
functionality
are you looking
for?
32,861 PLUGINS
717,781,988 DOWNLOADS, AND COUNTING
AS OF 8/19/2014

4. Plugins & Widgets
A large part in the flexibility of WordPress is
from using Plugins and Widgets
~ ~~~~~~~~~~~
Plug-ins extend the functionality of WordPress (it is
something that is installed and activated on the
WordPress site)
~~ ~
Widgets are placeholders or user interface elements
that have data visible to the user.

5. Plugins
Plug-ins can:
● Add new menus & configuration options to the Admin
Dashboard (post types, spam filters, content importing)
● Add new features to the frontend of your website (social
sharing tools)
● Change the way your site is displayed (mobile)
● Collect stats (analytics)
● Automate tasks (security, backup)

6. Some Suggested Free Plugins
Jetpack – lots of features (by: Automatic - requires a
WordPress.com account)
Disqus/Intense Debate (improves comments)
Akismet – Spam filter (already built in – by: Automatic
for personal free - businesses $5 p/m)
W3 Total Cache (improves page speed)
WordPress SEO by Yoast (Search)
Anti-Spam (no Captcha)
BackWPup Free (backs up both database and files)
Many other plugins freely available!
http://wordpress.org/plugins/

7. Some Plugins I use
• Gravity Forms ($99 Business)
• Backup Buddy ($80 Personal)
• WP Database Cleaner
• Woo Sidebars
• Google Analytics Dashboard for WP
• WP Touch – Mobile
• Widgetize Pages Light
• Testimonial Widgets
• WooCommerce

8. Top 12
• Akismet Downloaded 22,823,507 times
• WordPress SEO by Yoast Downloaded 12,079,475 times
• Contact Form 7 Downloaded 19,286,403 times
• Jetpack by WordPress.com Downloaded 11,676,798 times
• Wordfence Security Downloaded 2,609,898 times
• MailPoet Newsletters Downloaded 2,237,101 times
As of 8/19/2014

9. Top 12
• NextGEN Gallery Downloaded 10,664,523 times
• All in One SEO Pack Downloaded 19,642,755 times
• WP Super Cache Downloaded 6,061,055 times
• WordPress Importer Downloaded 8,083,625 times
• iThemes Security (formerly Better WP Security)
Downloaded 2,846,196 times
• Google XML Sitemaps Downloaded 14,616,663 times
As of 8/19/2014

10. How to find Plugins
• go to http://wordpress.org/plugins/
• What functionality are you looking for?
• Twitter Feed
• Simple PayPal shopping cart

11. Architecture of WordPress
• Files & folders
• (File Manager):
• Database (PHP):

12. Architecture of WordPress

13. Architecture of WordPress

14. Architecture of WordPress

15. Backups
 Use a plugin or service (automatic)
BackUPwp Free, Backup Buddy or
VaultPress
-or-
 Your Hosting service - just make sure its
not backing up to the same server.

16. Backups
 Here’s an article about different (free)
ways to backup your site:
http://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/free-wordpress-backup-plugins/

17. Security
• Always upgrade your WordPress Core,
plugins and themes
• From WordPress 3.7+ there are automatic core
updates
• Steps:
• 1. Backup your site
• 2. Upgrade your themes and plugins first
• 3. Upgrade WordPress core

18. Security
• Have strong passwords at all entry points:
– Hosting control panel
– FTP
– WordPress admin (never use “admin”)
– Give people their own username and password
• Delete any plugins you are not using
• Download code directly from wordpress.org
whenever possible

19. Security - some plugins
• Wordfence Security (Anti-virus and Firewall security)
• BulletProof Security (.htaccess file security.)
• Ithemes Security (formerly Better WordPress Security)
• BruteProtect (Cloud-powered protects against botnet attacks)

20. Conclusion
 WordPress.org, themes & plugins are open-source
& community developed: embrace - but
be cautious
 Keep plugins & themes updated
 Be careful of what files you’ve changed (ideally,
don’t change any “core” files in themes, plugins or
WordPress itself)

21.  http://www.wpthemedetector.com/
 http://pagexray.com/
 (for chrome)
2 fun tools

22. Questions?
Let’s connect:
» Twitter: Reikob and
TechDayCamp
» Linkedin: ReikoBeach
» Reiko@thetoolboxinc.com
» phone: 781.987.1655
TRBDesigns.com TheToolboxInc.com