Have you been hurt by a plugin in the past? Don't know where to start looking for your perfect match? We'll simplify the selection process to reveal the must-haves, the most useful and the next great WordPress plugin to capture your heart. Presented at MinneBar, April 2012

2. Before We Begin
• Please participate (this is an
unconference after all)
• Jump in, ask questions, share your
experiences (good or bad), disagree
with me, bring it
• This presentation (with LINKS to all
the plugins) will be available after the
session at myklroventine.com

3. Too Many Fish in the Sea
WordPress.org Plugin Directory today:
19,075 plugins and counting

4. Lots of “Helpful” Advice
Essential WordPress Plugins - 2,380,000 results
Best WordPress Plugins - 12,600,000 results
Must Have WordPress Plugins - 20,500,000 results
Vital WordPress Plugins - 45,900,000 results
Desert Island WordPress Plugins - 59,700,000 results

5. Your Needs Are Unique
“The WordPress plugins
you can’t live without
are the WordPress plugins
you can’t live without.”
- Lorelle VanFossen, Lorelle on WordPress

6. How to Find Your Perfect Match
Ask yourself:
• What goal or specific task are you trying to achieve?
• What are the desired features of the plugin?
• Are there any undesirable features?
Can you live with them?
• What would be nice extra features?
• Does is need to work as a sidebar widget, on posts/
pages, or both?
• Will it improve your site, your workflow or
maintenance tasks?

7. I Propose…
We use speed dating criteria:
• Looks
• Personality
• Promiscuity

8. Looks
• Will it integrate naturally into your
site’s design?
• Can it’s design be easily changed?
• Has any attention been given to the
look and feel of the settings page?
• Will it’s function improve the appeal
of your site?

9. Personality
• Does it play well with other plugins?
• Is it open to change (updated recently)?
• Is the documentation clear?
• Can you get help or assistance
if needed?
• Is it well-supported?

10. Promiscuity
• It it easy (to use)?
• How many downloads?
• Is it rated well?
• Does it satisfy your needs?
• Is it… sexy?

11. Most Importantly
A plugin has to meet the criteria
in less than 5 minutes or be kicked
to the curb.
Photo: wwarby on Flickr

12. Meet the
Candidates

13. After the Deadline

14. Search Unleashed

15. The Slide

16. Editorial Calendar

17. AdRotate

18. Duplicate Post

19. Digg Digg

20. ShareThis

21. ShareThis

22. WordPress Backup to Dropbox

23. Contact Form 7

24. Contact Form 7 reCAPTCHA Extension

25. Search Unleashed

26. Dynamic Widgets

27. Find Replace

28. Blubrry PowerPress Podcasting plugin

29. Customizable Post Listings

30. MailChimp List Subscribe Form

31. Subscribe to Comments

32. WordPress.com Stats

33. Google Analyticator

34. Exclude Pages

35. Adminimize

36. WordPress Download Monitor

37. FV Simpler SEO

38. Better WordPress Google XML Sitemaps

39. Maintenance Mode

40. Sometimes,
you have to
pay for it…

41. Akismet

42. VaultPress

43. WPtouch Pro

44. Gravity Forms

45. Nivo Slider

46. UberMenu - WordPress Mega Menu Plugin

47. Premise

48. Thank You!
Questions?
@myklroventine
myklroventine.com
Background Texture: rubyblossom on Flickr
WordPress Heart Icon: halfblog.net