Symptom
Our company just set up a WordPress-based website. We heard great things about WordPress, but it doesn’t do what we need right “out of the box.” We went to the WordPress plugin repository to improve our website, but there are almost 20,000 plugins to choose from. We need help picking out the right ones. We also hear that installing too many plugins can clog your website’s arteries.
Recommended medications
Cyri: Every once in a while a technology comes out that really transforms the landscape. WordPress definitely fits into this category. It began as a blogging tool but has evolved into a popular content management system that can be used to develop all kinds of websites. According to Pingdom (www.pingdom.com), almost half of the top 100 websites use WordPress. Automattic, the company behind the hosted version of WordPress.com, reports that 70 million sites use WordPress – double that of a year ago.
Ivan: There are two main options for using WordPress: sign up for a free site on WordPress.com or download the latest open-source, free WordPress software (www.wordpress.org) and install on your web host. To get the most customization, the second approach is best.
Our top 10 WordPress plugin recommendations are:
1. WP Super Cache (wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-super-cache/) – As you start adding plugins and content and get more visitors, you may notice a drop in speed. This plugin generates “static” HTML files from your site and serves these faster-to-load files to visitors.
2. Jetpack by WordPress.com (wordpress.org/extend/plugins/jetpack/) – A bundle of features that in the past you would have to get as individual plugins. It includes features like Stats, WP.me URL shortener, Gravatar, tweet display, embed YouTube, email subscriptions and spell check.
3. Google Analyticator (wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-analyticator/) – This “adds the necessary code to enable Google Analytics logging on any WordPress blog.” It also includes “widgets” you can display on your dashboard to display your web traffic summary.
4. All in One SEO Pack (wordpress.org/extend/plugins/all-in-one-seo-pack/) – One of the top 10 most downloaded WordPress plugins, it helps you automatically optimize your site for search engines.
5. BuddyPress (buddypress.org/) – Want to create your own “Facebook” for your organization? This plugin features blogs, profiles, forums, messaging, friend connections and activity streams. You can also add in more than 400 BuddyPress plugins to the main framework (buddypress.org/extend/plugins). You can see this in action at eraccommons.ca, a social site for K-12 teachers across B.C.
6. GD Star Ratings (wordpress.org/extend/plugins/gd-star-rating/) – Great if you want to rate postings or other content. This one was recently used for a provincial K-12 website rating mobile apps for education (eraccommons.ca/mobileapps/). It is free, although support costs $169 for the base licence and $109 per year annual fee.
7. Akismet (wordpress.org/extend/plugins/akismet/) – This plugin helps you fight spam comments so you don’t spend all your time deleting comments with links back to “buymyjunk.com.” It is free for personal use, $5 for single, non-personal sites. Business licences can get pricey.
8. WP-Touch (wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wptouch/) - The most popular mobile plugin for WordPress. It improves the browsing of your site for devices like iPhone and BlackBerry. It’s developed by local WordPress gurus Dale Mugford and Duane Storey of Brave New Code (bravenewcode.com). It has a free, light version. Pro versions range from US$49 to US$199.
9. Gravity Forms (www.gravityforms.com) – This creates all types of web forms, from simple contact forms to surveys. Price start at US$39 a year for a personal edition. One year of updates and support is included.
10. WP-Manage (www.managewp.com) – This is great for organizations that have multiple WordPress websites. It can save you a lot of time by automating repeated tasks like keeping your plugins up to date on multiple sites. Per-month cost for W.P. Manage ranges start at US$6.30 to manage 10 websites.
Future management
Cyri: Keep your plugins updated, but don’t try to install every “cool” plugin you find. Before you know it you will have a slow site or worse, a “white-screen of death” broken website because your plugins clash.
Ivan: Another important consideration is support. Plugins have online forum support to varying degrees. Also, make sure you use only “reputable” plugins, written by an excellent developer and that will be maintained over time.
Cyri and Ivan’s Medication Rating ?????
