Subscribe to RSS Feed7 WordPress Plugins You Shouldn’t Be Without
As bloggers we know that anything that can potentially make our lives a little bit easier or less hectic are definitely worth using or at least trying out. While WordPress was popular because of it’s features and abilities I believe that the plugins that were developed for it is what really increased it’s popularity. Being able to add extra functionality and options to our blogs to get them just how we want is a big plus. Below is a list of 7 plugins I believe that every WordPress blog shouldn’t be without.
- Akismet
- All In One SEO
- cForms Contact Forms
- Google Sitemap Generator
- Simple Tags
- Subscribe To Comments
- WordPress Database Backup
Akismet - We all hate spam and Akismet does an insanely good job at filtering out unwanted comments. It comes installed with WordPress by default so you don’t even have to worry about whether or not you have it installed. Akismet requires the use of a WordPress.com API key to use which you can get here and read up more about why you should have an API key.
All In One SEO - Not everybody has time to learn how to customize WordPress to make it compliant with search engines. While out of the box it does amazingly well compared to other similar platforms and software it still lacks in features. All In One SEO allows customization of the title tags (very important), along with a description for each post that will be used when displayed in the search engines. While the plugin has other features that help, these 2 are the most important.
cForms Contact Forms - Every blog should have a contact form or some way to get in touch with the blogger. A contact form is a great idea because it allows your readers or potential advertisers along with anybody else a way to contact you without you having to give out your email address or list it on your site having to worry about spammers finding it. cForms makes it extremely easy to setup and customize a form to fit in with your blog and provides error handling and captcha features as well.
Google Sitemap Generator - Having a sitemap of your entire site can help with the search engine robots being able to find and possibly index your posts and pages. Although having a sitemap won’t guarantee that your site or any post does get indexed having a map that the robots can follow can make it easier for them to find your content. The only way that a search engine robot can find your content is either links to that post or through a sitemap.
Simple Tags - This plugin is chock full of features and there are way too many to list here, I could dedicate an entire post to just this plugin. The default WordPress installation allows for the input of tags but it isn’t very efficient. Simple Tags adds a box that allows you to display tags that you have previously used on your blog so that you don’t have to remember which ones you had used in the past. They also allow you to find suggested tags through Yahoo and Tag The Net, however I never use those features. You can also Mass Edit tags which shows you a list of your posts and the tags that are used for each one. I find this feature very useful because you don’t have to go through each post to modify the tags. You can also add a Related Tags and Related Posts section to the end of your posts to engage your readers to further explore your blog.
Subscribe To Comments - To be honest, I am not quite sure why I installed this plugin at first. Other than the fact that I thought it sounded cool. If you notice that when you comment on the blog you have the option to be emailed when new comments are made on the post. This options allows your readers to stay updated on the discussion for that post and gives them a chance to interact with other readers of your blog. The only thing I would like to see with this plugin is an option to limit the number of emails sent out or send them out in a batch. Currently every time that there is a new comment an email is sent and if your post ends up getting a lot of comments, whoever subscribes is going to end up with a lot of emails. I am surprised at just how many people are actually using this feature.
WordPress Database Backup - I would rank this plugin as the most important but it may be one that a lot of bloggers don’t even have! Your database is the most important thing when it comes to your blog and WordPress. All of your posts and comments along with WordPress settings are saved inside of your database and if you don’t have backups you are kicking yourself in the ass. Shit can and does go wrong without any reason so having a backup of your database is an essential key to blogging. This plugin allows you to backup the default wordpress database tables along with any other tables that other plugins may be using.
There is an option to have the backup file saved to your server, downloaded to your computer or emailed to your inbox. There is also a scheduler which allows for once hourly, twice daily, once daily and once weekly backups and the file will be sent to your preferred email address. I use the scheduled backup and have the file sent daily. Depending upon how much traffic you get and how much changes will depend on which setting will best suit you.
So there you have it, 7 wordpress plugins that you shouldn’t be without that I personally use. I realize that there are other plugins out there that add some other great features to WordPress and make things a lot easier but these are ones that I consider should be with every WordPress install. I’d be interested in hearing what you all think are some important plugins that you find useful that I may have not mentioned here.
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September 22nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Thanks for the heads up on a backup plugin. I don’t have one, and if I lost my site, I would be crushed.
Writer Dads last blog post..Olly Olly Oxen Free
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Hi Sean, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Yes, a lot of bloggers don’t have backup of their blog or even think about it except when it comes time that they actually need it.
I read your latest post on your blog, sorry to hear about the preschool being shut down but it sounds like you are headed on the right track :)
September 23rd, 2008 at 6:27 am
May I add something? ExecPHP. :) Great list by the way.
Lucass last blog post..Be a Better Link Builder - Use Forum Signatures
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:25 am
Is a sitemap really worth it? Maybe if you are a new blog…but if you are fairly established (been blogging regularily for over a few months) then wouldn’t it become pointless??
A question for you jarret which is completely irrelevant to this post. What should I give away for my top commentor next month? $150 in cash or a new Ipod Nano 8 Gig??
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:17 am
@Lucas - Thanks for stopping by the blog. I tried checking out ExecPHP real quick but couldn’t really understand what it was…..maybe you could elaborate a little bit further? Does it just allow you to add extra widgets to the sidebar?
@Ryan - A sitemap can be worth it yes for both a new blog/site or established site. As long as there is a link somewhere that Google can find linking to a page/post then you will be ok. But if you have a post that has no links pointing to it the only way Google or any search engine robot is going to find out about it is a sitemap.
As far as what to give away, I would offer either one as a prize. Some people may want the Nano even though they could just take the cash and buy it but people are lazy :P And for those that didn’t want the Nano they could just take the cash. I would assume that this may grab you a few extra entrants because you are giving them an option.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:10 am
I love the list, and use them all. I recently switched out all in one seo for platinum seo, they are pretty much the same, I guess platinum is the continuation of all in one.
Either way, I agree, these plugins are definitely must haves.
Normal Joes last blog post..What Really Goes On At Blog World Expo
September 24th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Hmmm, I have heard of Platinum SEO before but never really checked it out. I can’t really see what other features it could provide that would help anymore with SEO compared to regular plugin but I am gonna go search for it now and see what I can find.
Ok, just went and checked it out, I don’t really see any features that are necessary that require an upgrade personally but I’m sure there are people out there that will disagree with me ;)
September 24th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I love my All in One SEO plugin! Half the time I’m too lazy to use it, but can you imagine how bad I’d be if I had to do it all by hand?
One thing I’d add is the automatic upgrade plugin. Great for those of us who aren’t good at the technical end of blogging.
WordVixens last blog post..Can A Little Guy Use Contests To Boost Visibility?
September 28th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I agree, the all in one is superb! I’m also a strong advocate for subscribe to comments, as I do a lot of commenting.
Dennis Edells last blog post..Important Tip: FREE Will Cost You In The Long Run - Do You Agree?
September 28th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I’m surprised not to see comment luv…I just found you through it and subscribed :-)
Dennis Edells last blog post..Important Tip: FREE Will Cost You In The Long Run - Do You Agree?
September 28th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Hi Dennis, thanks for stopping by :)
I do like CommentLuv and think it is a great plugin, however it isn’t for everybody. This list was more for features that I believe should come installed with WordPress.
CommentLuv is more for a social aspect of blogging and giving back to your readers and I see these plugins from more of a functional standpoint if that makes any sense.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
It does. I just advocate it as essential personally. A blog with no community is just a big to-do list :-)
Dennis Edells last blog post..Important Tip: FREE Will Cost You In The Long Run - Do You Agree?
September 29th, 2008 at 12:08 am
@Dennis - You are right about a blog with no community as a to-do list :)
I actually thought of a feature tonight that CommentLuv doesn’t have currently so I sent an email to the plugin author and waiting to see what he says. I am not sure if he has thought of it himself or if somebody else has recommended it .
I would say what it is but it’s a secret for now ;)
September 29th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I’m all goose bumps :-)
Dennis Edells last blog post..Important Tip: FREE Will Cost You In The Long Run - Do You Agree?
September 29th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Haha, don’t get excited. I got an email from him saying that he doesn’t see that it would be any useful…..
The idea was for us to be able to use CommentLuv like it is, but the thing is is that it can only go back 10 posts right now. I suggested that he implement something to where we could enter a URL of an older post of ours and then the plugin would go grab the title and use that.
This is because I have come across many posts and some of my older posts relate closely to the theme of the post that I am reading. As you know CommentLuv shows the title of the post and if you can leave a link to a related post you can increase the chance that people will click through.
I think it is a great idea and I may even look into developing the plugin myself or having a friend do it.
I’d be interested to know what anybody else thinks about this idea?
September 29th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I think it’s an awesome idea, and a little similar to one I’m going to suggest.
I’m not too sure how many CL users would switch to another one though, just for that one feature.
Dennis Edells last blog post..Important Tip: FREE Will Cost You In The Long Run - Do You Agree?
October 31st, 2008 at 7:57 pm
In addition to most of the ones listed above, i also use Physic Search.
It allows one to check search engine traffic right from our blogs dashboard. It is pretty cool. It is a Max Blog press plugin.
I use it on all my blogs, so terribly convenient.
Missys last blog post..iPhone Recycling Blog - Latest G34 Media Property
November 1st, 2008 at 5:58 am
Missy - I got that in my email as well (he’s got some awesome plugins) but this one seemed a little…I dunno…silly?
But if it really does help, I’ll give it a shot when time permits, thanks for reminding me of it.
Dennis Edells last blog post..Oct.’08 Post Round-Up for Direct Sales Web Marketing
November 1st, 2008 at 8:38 am
I totally recommend it. Essentially when you login every morning to your blog to check your backlinks, comments, etc.
With this plugin you can also check your search engine traffic (complete with keywords used to find you) right in the dashboard. It doesn’t track referral traffic such as social media, but still a good useful plugin. I love it and add it to every blog i create.
Missys last blog post..iPhone Recycling Blog - Latest G34 Media Property
November 1st, 2008 at 10:29 am
Sweet! Thanks, now I’ll go find it…do you see it interfering with any other plugins? After my recent commentluv debockle, I’m quite cautious in this area LOL
Dennis Edells last blog post..Oct.’08 Post Round-Up for Direct Sales Web Marketing
November 1st, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Nope. I have a gazillion plugins on my flagship blog, and no debockle. LoL. I also use CommentLuv and no probs.
Peace.
Missys last blog post..iPhone Recycling Blog - Latest G34 Media Property
November 19th, 2008 at 4:24 am
Very informative and detailed post, its a must to have all these plugins now, i have only 5 of them. Thanks mate!
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