The 7 Must-Have WordPress Plugins
July 20, 2008
Here are seven plugins I think every WordPress web site should include.
If you are working to increase traffic without a clear measurement of where you are now, how will you know if you have improved? The Analyticator widget links your WordPress blog to Google Analytics, the powerful and free traffic analysis product from Google.
WordPress is updated frequently, but downloading manually can be tricky. But this tool makes it a breeze! As always, back up your site before making any changes, and be sure to include your database.
(Note: WordPress 2.7 now includes an automatic upgrade feature, so only folks with older versions of WordPress would need this widget.)
It doesn’t matter how cool your blog is if nobody can find it. This plugin can dramatically increases the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) effectiveness of your WordPress site. Again, As always BACK UP YOUR SITE and read the entire read me file first.
Have I mentioned how important it is to back up your WordPress site?! Let’s face it — sometimes things go wrong. This plug-in emails you a back-up of your precious database everyday. I simply archive my backups in a dedicated Gmail folder.
Clean and easy RSS feeds are a breeze with the Feedburner plugin. With a few clicks your readers can add your posts to their reader. Follow the activation instructions and off you go.
6. WordPress Ready Contact Form
It’s never a good idea to post your email address on the Internet, but of course you still want people to contact you. A nice solution is to include a form on your Contact Us page.
There are many contact forms available for the WordPress engine, and many of them stink. This contact form is neat and tidy.
If you accept comments on your blog or site, spammers can quickly “bomb” your page, and fill it with garbage. The first thing you want to do when you create a new site is set up your spam defenses.
The Akismet plugin reduces SPAM comments. While it comes included in all WordPress installations, you need to register for a WordPress.com account to activate the plugin.
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