2. Plugins expand the functionality of the site allowing you to add
galleries, maps, sliders, video galleries and many more.
There are now almost 40,000 free plugins available through the
dashboard, so whatever you want to do, there’s probably a plugin for
it.
There are two plugin types:
1. New widgets to use in your widget areas. Use the word ‘widget’ in
your search if that’s what you want.
2. Plugins that work across the site.
Finding out how they work can be a bit tricky. You have to do a bit of
detective work.
Plugins
3. After you’ve done a search for a plugin, the best place to start is to
look at the screenshots. This often helps you understand how they
work. Click on ‘more details’
Plugins
4. Then check out the screenshots, which will give you an idea of how
the plugin works
Plugins
5. Another good guide is how many downloads there have been.
A plugin with 100,000+ downloads is probably going to do the job
better than one with 20.
Googling plugins (make sure you include the word ‘WordPress’ in your
search term) will often help you understand them. ‘How to use
NextGen WordPress plugin’ for example will lead to a good video
tutorial.
Here are some useful plugins and a quick guide to how they work:
Plugins
6. Here are some plugins you’ll probably need and a quick guide to how
they work
Plugins
7. Plugin: Simple Image Widget
Search for: Simple Image Widget
How does it work: The latest version of WordPress now includes a
simple image widget by default, making this a bit redundant!
Plugins
8. Plugin: Dynamic Widgets
Search for: Dynamic Widgets
How does it work: Gives you an option on each widget to chose the
page where you want it to display.
The choose the page(s) where
you want the widget to appearClick the ‘Dynamic’ link
Plugins
9. Plugin: Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Widget Area Manager
Search for: Dynamic Widgets
How does it work: Allows you to create different sidebars with widgets
for different pages. More sophisticated and user-friendly than Dynamic
widgets
Plugins
10. Plugin: Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Widget Area Manager
Plugins
How does it work: Create a new sidebar in widget area. Add the
widgets you want to add…then
11. Plugin: Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Widget Area Manager
Plugins
How does it work: Use the panel on page or post to insert the
sidebar you want to appear
12. Plugin: NextGen Gallery
Search for: NextGen Gallery
How does it work: Allows you to insert galleries into a page. Has options
for the type of gallery. Green square in visual editor and gallery button
on main menu.
Plugins
13. Plugin: Meta slider
Search for: Meta slider
How does it work: Allows you to insert sliders into a page from a simple
button. Also on the main menu.
Plugins
14. Plugin: Meta slider
Search for: Meta slider
How does it work: Allows you to insert sliders into a page from a simple
button. Also on the main menu.
Plugins
15. Plugin: Page Builder by SiteOrigin
Search for: Page Builder by SiteOrigin
How does it work: Allows you to add different elements to the page
Plugins
16. Plugin: Page Builder by SiteOrigin
How does it work: Uses simple buttons to allow you to add all types of
content. You can add rows and format them. The add widgets or
content.
8. Plugins
17. Plugin: WP Hide Title
How does it work: Allows you to hide page and post titles.
Plugins
18. Plugin: WP Hide Title
How does it work: It adds a new dialogue box on the CMS
Plugins
19. Plugin: WP Hide Title
How does it work: Unchecked it will display the page title
Plugins
20. Plugin: WP Hide Title
How does it work: Check the box and the title disappears
Plugins
21. Plugin: WP Hide Title
How does it work: Bingo! No title.
Plugins