One of the reasons for WordPress's success is that its functionalities can easily be extended using a WordPress plugin. WordPress is open source, which means that any programmer can create a WordPress plugin and add it to the WordPress community. Consequently, nearly 50.000 plugins can currently be found on WordPress.org, which have been downloaded a total of over 1.5 billion times. These are the most popular ones at the moment.
So, a maze of plugins. But how do you find the right one for your website, and what should you look out for during your search for a WordPress plugin? In this article, we'll give you a few tips to get you started.
What do I use a WordPress plugin for?
It is important to first determine for yourself which WordPress plugin you want to add to your website and whether you really need it. Make this clear for yourself first. This prevents you from using many different variants on your website simultaneously, as this can affect the speed and stability of your website.
The functionalities you want to add to your website depend on your website's (conversion) goal. For example, there are plugins that encourage your visitors to get in touch, such as Easy Slide In, which allows you to set up a pop-up screen on your website. Additionally, there are options to optimize your website for SEO, create photo galleries, easily implement content, and much more.
As soon as this overview is ready, the search can begin!
What makes a good WordPress plugin?
On WordPress.org, you will find a huge database of free options. The website's search function makes it very easy for you to search specifically. You search for the functionality you want to add, for example, 'photo gallery'. You will then receive many results, the order of which is determined based on a number of factors. These factors are very important because they tell you whether or not a WordPress plugin is suitable and reliable. In this overview, you will see, among other things:
- The number of stars
- The number of downloads
- The latest update
- With which version of WordPress the extension is compatible
The number of stars indicates the rating given directly by users. This is therefore an important criterion. The number of downloads also provides a very good indication. If a good-looking WordPress plugin has a lot of downloads, you can almost assume that the plugin is actually good.
Apart from the number of downloads and stars, the date of the last update is perhaps the most important factor. This has primarily to do with reliability. After all, a serious developer will update their creation regularly. Conversely, a plugin that is not updated, or hardly updated at all, can hardly be any good. Updates can be performed to add extra functionalities, but they can also concern security updates.
How are the costs of a WordPress plugin structured?
There are programmers who create excellent plugins in their spare time that are then free to download and use. However, there are also companies that have based their business model on WordPress plugins. These are often larger and offer more functionalities, but they do come with a price tag. So, be aware of the costs you might encounter before you commit. Sometimes you pay a one-time fee, but subscriptions are not uncommon either. Additionally, implementing a plugin can be a significant undertaking, for example, when the plugin needs to be styled to match your branding. In that case, keep in mind that your web developer may charge for this as well.
What are the (potential) risks of using plugins?
The use of plugins can also have disadvantages. As we indicated earlier, it is not advisable to stuff your entire website with plugins for the sake of speed and stability, but other risks are also lurking. Everyone knows that you shouldn't just plug a stranger's USB stick into your laptop; after all, it might contain a hidden file that infects your computer and causes damage. The same can happen with plugins. Therefore, it is recommended to check with Best4u regarding the WordPress plugin you have in mind.
We work with this CMS daily and can tell you more about the functionalities and potential risks. Incidentally, you are unlikely to encounter a truly dangerous plugin on WordPress's own website, as this is closely monitored. However, plugins can be downloaded everywhere and nowhere. Even in places where no one checks for you whether it is safe.
If you proceed with a little care, you will get a lot of enjoyment out of WordPress and all the available plugins. At Best4u, we know the selection and know which plugin is best for your specific needs. We are also quick to respond when new innovations appear on the market. Therefore, feel free to contact us if you have a question about a plugin.
What are the best WordPress plugins according to Best4u?
Best4u has already told you a lot about what to look out for regarding plugins, but now it is time to highlight some options for you. After all, WordPress offers countless plugins that can take your website to an even higher level. You pay extra for some variants, but there are also plenty of free tools that allow you to take things a step further.
Table Press
Table Press is a free WordPress plugin that helps you accommodate all kinds of tables on your site. Do you want to give your users an overview of your options by listing them briefly? Table Press helps you with this. Because a sort button has been implemented, your user can easily filter by price, date, name, color, and so on.
AddtoAny
Especially if you sell products, it is certainly nice if your users can let others know about a cool item from your webshop. AddtoAny is a free tool that you can implement on your website. There are more than 18 buttons you can add, such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. This way, your customers don't have to jump through hoops to 'share' something with friends or family.
MonsterInsights
Google Analytics and webshops are inextricably linked. Data-driven business is therefore more the rule than the exception these days. MonsterInsights helps you connect, but is also able to show you the Analytics results from within the WordPress environment. This way, you have everything under one roof.
smush
The loading speed of your website depends partly on the size of the images posted on the online domain. Images with large file sizes are therefore detrimental to your crawling budget. Smush can make a valuable contribution here. This tool reduces image sizes without affecting image quality.
MailPoet
MailPoet is easy to use as a newsletter plugin for WordPress. MailPoet is linked to your WordPress users and posts.
The tool includes autoresponder settings and offers good options for importing current email lists from, for example, an Excel file. Additionally, the plugin is free to use for up to 2.000 email addresses.
Gravity Forms
Gravity Forms is a paid version, but we definitely think it's worth it! You can place every possible form you can imagine on your website using this plugin. Unfortunately, there is no Dutch version of this plugin available yet, but the English version works well.
The beauty of Gravity Forms is that anyone can work with it. Every conversion-friendly website must have good contact options, so a form should no longer be a technical stumbling block. With Gravity Forms, you no longer need to be an expert to put a form together. You are even supported by the plugin while creating or editing a form. A must-have!
NextGEN Gallery
NextGEN Gallery is the most widely used gallery plugin for WordPress. With over 12 million downloads, the NextGEN Gallery plugin certainly deserves a place on this list.
It is a powerful plugin for uploading and managing photos. You can use it to add data and multiple photos at once. Additionally, it offers two display options: slideshow and thumbnail. Both options have many formatting possibilities, such as controlling size, style, timing, transitions, lightbox effects, and much more!
Akismet
Akismet is the most widely used anti-spam service, aimed at preventing unwanted spam in the WordPress comment system. It analyzes and processes massive amounts of data from millions of websites and servers free of charge. Akismet works in this way to combat the latest and strangest tactics employed by the most skilled spammers. It learns every second of the day to keep your website safe. This tool relies on artificial intelligence, allowing Akismet to effortlessly recognize trustworthy and unreliable messages.
Best4u definitely recommends installing these plugins in your WordPress environment to take advantage of all these handy features. Should you need any assistance with this, you can always contact us!
What other tips do you have regarding the WordPress plugin?
1. Use a security plugin
The sheer volume of WordPress plugins available also has a downside. Because WordPress is open source, anyone who wants to can develop one and offer it on the internet, including hackers. Therefore, there will always be unsafe plugins among the selection, for example in the form of malware. If you have found a plugin you would like to use, it is important to pay attention to the factors mentioned in the previous tip, among others. Additionally, you can download a security plugin, such as the WPMUDEV Defender. This ensures that you are warned if your website contains plugins that pose a threat.
2. Keep your plugins up to date
We briefly discussed the importance of an updated plugin in tip 2. Even after installing the WordPress plugin, you must keep an eye on updates. This is because—if you have chosen a reliable plugin—regular updates are released that are necessary to keep the plugin properly secured and functioning optimally. Therefore, always keep your plugins up to date. Optionally, you can choose to have this done by an experienced support and security specialist.