WordPress is a great CMS and one of its main advantages is that it is highly customizable both in terms of appearance and in terms of functionality. Free WordPress themes allow to change the appearance of a WordPress blog, while free WordPress plugins add functionality to it. There are thousands of WordPress plugins and while some of them are barely useful, others are a must-have. Here are 7 WordPress plugins every site can benefit from:
1. An Antispam WordPress Plugin
If a WordPress blog is open for comments, then spam is sure to pour in. This is why an antispam plugin is a must. The built-in Akismet does a great job, so there is no need to search for something else.
2. A WordPress Plugin to Backup the Database or the Whole WordPress Installation
Site backup is really vital in order to prevent data loss and this is why a WordPress plugin to backup the database, or even better – the whole WordPress installation is also a must-have. Ez Backup WordPress plugin (http://lastnightsdesigns.com/?page_id=121) is a great WordPress backup plugin and it allows to backup not only the WordPress database, but also themes and other stuff the webmaster has uploaded.
3. A WordPress Plugin for Popular Posts
Listings of popular posts can be seen on almost any WordPress blog and readers love them. This is why a plugin for popular posts is a good idea. There are many such plugins and Most Popular Posts (http://www.wesg.ca/2008/08/wordpress-widget-most-popular/) is one of the best. This plugin lists popular posts based on the number of comments, so if comments are not enabled, the results are not accurate.
4. An Adsense WordPress Plugin
Most blogs are monetized via Google Adsense and therefore they need an Adsense WordPress plugin. Advertising Manager (http://code.openx.org/projects/show/advertising-manager) is a top pick. In addition to Google Adsense, it can be configured for many other ad networks, so even if a webmaster doesn't monetize his or her site with Google Adsense, this plugin will still be useful.
5. A WordPress Plugin for Social Bookmarking
Social bookmarking is valuable for driving traffic and it makes sense to make it easier for readers to bookmark articles. There are tens of social bookmarking WordPress plugins and it is hard to say which one is the best. For instance, Social Bookmarks (http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/social-bookmarks/) is among the top rated, so it must be good.
6. A WordPress Plugin for Integration with Twitter
Social bookmarking does drive a lot of traffic but Twitter is also a traffic mill. If a webmaster wants to repost his or her WordPress posts on Twitter, then RF Twitter Post (http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/rf-twitterpost/) is the best choice.
7. A WordPress Plugin for Integration with Facebook
Similarly to Twitter, Facebook can also drive a lot of traffic. If a webmaster wants to integrate his or her WordPress blog with his or her Facebook account, Facebook Connect Wordpress plugin (http://www.sociable.es/facebook-connect/) is exactly what this webmaster needs.
WordPress plugins are great and it is really hard to pick only 5, 7, or 10 that stand out from the rest. For many webmasters the list of top 7 WordPress plugins is different because the needs of their sites are different but the plugins in the list above are more or less universal, so no matter what type of site a webmaster is running, these WordPress plugins will be useful.
Tsveti Georgieva - I have been a full-time freelancer since 2005. Before that I was a serial job quitter and but now I have finally found a job - i.e. ...
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