20 Must Have WordPress Plugins

I have become a WordPress fan.  All of my sites are now WordPress based, simply because it is so easy to use and totally multi-functional.

Want a static site?  No problem, a few clicks on settings and you have one.
Need a sales page site?  No problem, there are sales pages for WordPress available.
A membership site?  Social zone? Or just a simple blog…

The possibilities are endless.

But, where would we be without plugins for WordPress?  Probably spammed to death and working ten times as hard.  Here are my favourite “must have”  WordPress plugins.

1.    Askimet – It comes as standard when you download WordPress, just activate it (you need an API key from WordPress), you won’t regret it.  What does it do?  It stops spam comments.  Squish those pesky bot comments without lifting a finger.

2.    Yet Another Related Posts Plugin – Help your readers get around your blog by giving related post suggestions.

3.    WP Super Cache – WP is quite slow all things considered.  Rather than serving up the php files, WP Super Cache generated a static page for users not logged in (which is most people!).  This speeds up loading times, and apparently makes you Digg proof too.

4.    Wapple Architect – No need for a mobile site now.  Wapple detects the user’s phone capabilities and serves mobile friendly pages automatically.  Install from WordPress plugins page but needs you to register (free) for an API key.

5.    All-in-One SEO Pack – Must have simple SEO for your WordPress site

6.    Google Analyticator – an overview of your analytics stats in your dashboard.

7.    SEO Slugs – Removes all the unnecessary common words from your post slugs (like ‘a’, ‘the’ and ‘in’ etc.)

8.    SEO Smart Links – Automatically adds your links to your posts.  You choose the keywords for each link URL then set and forget.

9.    SEO Friendly Images – never forget to add your alt and title tags again

10.    SEO Power – My new favourite plugin, it saves me HOURS of work updating post tags.  Read about how to get it here

11.    Google XML Sitemaps – automatically builds your sitemap and submits it to the top search engines.

12.    AddToAny: Share/Bookmark/Email Button – It’s that share button at the bottom.  Feel free to try it out

13.    Tweet Meme – That cute little box at the top of the post – go on press it, you know you want to!

14.    RAP Bank – Add affiliate links to your posts or sidebar from the RAP Bank instant PayPal commissions site.  Read about it here or get your plugin free here.

15.    Info Links plugin – In-text advertising.  You can use this alongside Google ads too.  Apply at http://www.infolinks.com

16.    Secret Cookie Caller – Protect your affiliate links.  Get it free here.

17.    Viper’s Video Quicktags – Easily embed videos from various video websites such as YouTube, DailyMotion, and Vimeo into your posts.

18.    Admin Management Xtended – Extends the WP admin functionality

19.    Auto Tags – Tag posts on save and update from tagthe.net and yahoo services.

20.    EzineArticles Plugin – Post to EzineArticles directly from your blog.  Watch the how to video on the EzineArticles blog

You can install most of these plugins straight from the WordPress blog plugin admin.

How to Install a WordPress Plugin

•  Log into your WordPress dashboard
•  Click on the “Plugins” drop-down menu in the left navigation bar and click on “Add New”
•  Type in the name of the plugin into the search field and click the “Search Plugins” button
•  Click on “Install” on the far right
•  In the popup box that opens click the “Install Now” button
•  On the next screen, click the “Activate Plugin” text link

If you have downloaded a plugin, they are super simple to install.

•  Log into your WordPress dashboard
•  Click on the “Plugins” drop-down menu in the left navigation bar and click on “Add New”
•  Click the “Upload” text link
•  Click “Browse” and find the plugin zip file
•  Click “Install Now”
•  On the next screen, click the “Activate Plugin” text link

Have you any favourites that I have missed?

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