The document discusses the current state of WordPress plugins, highlighting issues such as compatibility with WordPress 3.x and the lack of updates for many plugins. It also emphasizes the importance of assessing plugins based on compatibility, update history, and user feedback while recommending essential plugins for various functions. Additionally, it provides resources for finding quality themes and outlines characteristics of effective WordPress themes.

1. Photo: j / f / photos on Flickr

2. Assumptions
• You have great taste in session choice
• You know what a WordPress plugin is
• You know how to install & activate one
• You want to know more about how to
find good ones & which ones can make
your blog better

3. WP Plugin Directory
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/

4. However, it’s not all
it seems to be...
Recent investigation of the current state of
the WordPress plugin repository found:
• More than half of the plugins in the
repository are not compatible with
WordPress 3.x.
• Only 32% of those 15,000+ plugins
have been updated in 2011!
Source: http://wpmu.org/what-lurks-in-the-wordpress-plugin-repository/

5. Changes are coming
Plugins not been updated in past two
years will be hidden both in the repository
and in the WP admin plugin search.
- Announced by Matt Mullenweg at WordCamp
San Francisco in August 2011
This is awesome!

6. Do your homework
• Check compatibility,
• When last updated
• Average rating
• Others’ comments/issues

7. A word about
bundled plugins
Akismet
http://akismet.com/wordpress/

8. A word about
bundled plugins
Jetpack
http://jetpack.me/

9. My plugin criteria
• I have used it (or someone I trust has)
• It solves a specific problem
• Proper resource usage (won’t slow
things down)
• Updated/supported
• Easy to use/configure
• Free (mostly)

10. Essential plugins
#1 - EZPZ One Click Backup
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/ezpz-one-click-backup/

11. Related plugin
VaultPress (Paid)
http://vaultpress.com/

12. Essential plugins
#2 - Contact Form 7
http://contactform7.com/

13. Essential plugins
#2 - Contact Form 7
http://contactform7.com/

14. Essential plugins
Contact Form 7 reCAPTCHA Extension
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/contact-form-7-recaptcha-extension/

15. Related plugin
Gravity Forms (Paid)
http://www.gravityforms.com/

16. Essential plugins
#3 - After the Deadline
http://www.afterthedeadline.com/

17. Essential plugins
#4 - Yet Another Related Posts Plugin
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/yet-another-related-posts-plugin/

18. Essential plugins
#5 - WPtouch
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wptouch/

19. Related plugin
WPtouch Pro (Paid)
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wptouch/

20. Essential plugins
#6 (Tie) - ShareThis
http://sharethis.com/

21. Essential plugins
#6 (Tie) - ShareThis
http://sharethis.com/

22. Essential plugins
#6 (Tie) - ShareThis
http://sharethis.com/

23. Essential plugins
#6 (Tie) - AddThis
http://www.addthis.com/

24. Essential plugins
#6 (Tie) - Sharebar
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/sharebar/

25. Essential plugins
#7 - FV Simpler SEO
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/fv-all-in-one-seo-pack/

26. Essential plugins
#7 - FV Simpler SEO
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/fv-all-in-one-seo-pack/

27. Essential plugins
#8 - Slidedeck (Free & paid)
http://www.slidedeck.com/

28. Essential plugins
#8 - Slidedeck free version
http://www.slidedeck.com/

29. Essential plugins
#8 - Slidedeck (Paid)
http://www.slidedeck.com/

30. Essential plugins
#8 - Slidedeck (Paid)
http://www.slidedeck.com/

31. Essential plugins
#9 - Google Analyticator
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-analyticator/

32. Essential plugins
#10 - Search Unleashed
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/search-unleashed/

33. Essential plugins
#10 - Search Unleashed
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/search-unleashed/

34. Essential plugins
#11 - Exclude Pages
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/exclude-pages/

35. Essential plugins
#11 - Exclude Pages
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/exclude-pages/

36. Essential plugins
#12 - Google Calendar Events
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-calendar-events/

37. Essential plugins
#12 - Google Calendar Events
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-calendar-events/

38. Essential plugins
#13 - FeedBurner FeedSmith
http://www.google.com/support/feedburner/bin/answer.py?
hl=en&answer=78483&ctx=cb&src=cb&cbid=-1adh3dwxzdmhr&cbrank=2

39. Essential plugins
#14 - Tweet Blender
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/tweet-blender/

40. Essential plugins
#14 - Tweet Blender
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/tweet-blender/

41. Essential plugins
#15 - Maintenance Mode
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/maintenance-mode/

42. Photo: Adam Holloway on Flickr

43. WP Free Themes Directory
http://wordpress.org/extend/themes/
• Not very helpful
• Hard to determine quality

44. Get recommendations
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2011/07/05/free-wordpress-themes-2011-edition/

45. Anatomy of a great theme
• Customizable - can add your own logo,
color scheme, change layout, etc.
• Flexible - can handle a variety of
different post types
• Adaptable - can grow with your needs
• Ongoing support and upgrades

46. Mix of free & paid themes
Graph Paper Press
http://graphpaperpress.com/

47. Mix of free & paid themes
NattyWP
http://www.nattywp.com/

48. Premium/paid themes
StudioPress
http://www.studiopress.com/

49. Premium/paid themes
Thesis Theme Framework
http://diythemes.com/

50. Premium/paid themes
Thesis Theme Framework
http://diythemes.com/

51. Premium/paid themes
Headway Themes
http://headwaythemes.com

52. Premium/paid themes
Headway Themes
http://headwaythemes.com

53. Premium/paid themes
Headway Themes
http://headwaythemes.com

54. Thank
you!
Mykl Roventine
designer of things
myklroventine.com
@myklroventine