As a web developer, I can’t say that I have a particular affinity for WordPress, but these days just about every client wants to be able to manage their own content and rarely are they gung-ho about sitting down with Notepad and FileZilla and picking through HTML to do so. 
That said, I use WordPress with some reluctance…though there are other options available, WordPress is the one with the most intuitive interface and also the one with the most impressive array of plugins. While I’m happy to create my own custom plugins when a clients budget allows it, it’s not always the case. Here we have the list of what I would call the 9 most mandatory WordPress plugins for pretty much any install.
Better WP Security
WordPress is a notorious target for hackers. With open-source software comes a much higher risk of hackability. It’s one of the very few downsides to open-source. That said, WordPress does not have what would be considered the most impressive built in security. Better WP Security is the bee knees of security plugins. It does it all (well, almost) including scheduled database backups. If you misssed my previous post about security WordPress, do yourself a favor and have a look: How to Secure WordPress.
Limit Login Attempts
Another security plugin that is mandatory. WordPress does not have a login failure limit by default, which means hackers can continuously attempt to hack into your admin panel. It also means they can flood your admin panel with requests which for whatever reason takes up a ton of server resources and can potentially crash yours server. This has been the root of a major wave of recent attacks on WordPress installs. Stop that by installing this plugin.
Sucuri Security – SiteCheck Malware Scanner
One last security plugin. This is an essential hardening plugin. It will lock down vulnerable directories that are often the target of hackers looking to inject malicious code into your WordPress install. This plugin also has a scanner within it that can detect if your site has already been hacked, and checks various security sites to see if your site has been reported as malicious. Extremely extremely useful!
Disqus Comment System
transcendkyle@gmail.com
The built in WordPress commenting functions suck…and they’re also another source of vulnerability in the sense that they’re typically bombed with spam. Replace the built in functions with Disqus and you get some added value by way of having your content featured on other sites (if you so choose to feature other sites on your comment panel), and it also has built in social login functions so your visitors don’t have to register with your site in order to comment on it. This is a very widely used commenting system, so many of your visitors will already be logged in when they see it.
NextScripts: Social Networks Auto-Poster
Set up your site to automatically syndicate your posts out to your social network sites easily. This plugin makes quick
work of getting the word out. Set it up, connect your desired social profiles, and whenever you post you can choose to send the content right to your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Delicious, etc.
PS Disable Auto Formatting
This is actually the first plugin I install every time I set up a WordPress install. Why? Because I hate the automatic formatting that WordPress adds to pages and posts. This removes that automated formatting.
WordPress SEO
This is an awesome tool if for nothing else than the auto updating XML sitemaps which can be fed to Google, Bing / Yahoo. It can also add social tags for you, most importantly the stuff needed to get Google Authorship going. WordPress is pretty darn search engine friendly to begin with, but this takes it a step further.
Related Posts by Zemanta
I like this plugin because it gives you an instantly modern touch to your site by visually tying together your related posts. There are a variety of formats to choose from, some of them are really flashy, some are a little more straightforward. This is a great way to get people to check out another post on your site once they’ve finished reading the one they’re currently one.
Jetpack by WordPress.com
Most people that use WordPress are familiar with this one already. This is a utility knife for your blog. Tons of built in added functions including subscriptions, post by email, spelling and grammar checking, automatic shortlinks, contact form, stats, social sharing links (see them in action below) etc etc…get this one.
Don't miss these other posts...
9 WordPress plugins you shouldn’t go without
As a web developer, I can’t say that I have a particular affinity for WordPress, but these days just about every client wants to be able to manage their own content and rarely are they gung-ho about sitting down with Notepad and FileZilla and picking through HTML to do so.
That said, I use WordPress with some reluctance…though there are other options available, WordPress is the one with the most intuitive interface and also the one with the most impressive array of plugins. While I’m happy to create my own custom plugins when a clients budget allows it, it’s not always the case. Here we have the list of what I would call the 9 most mandatory WordPress plugins for pretty much any install.
Better WP Security
WordPress is a notorious target for hackers. With open-source software comes a much higher risk of hackability. It’s one of the very few downsides to open-source. That said, WordPress does not have what would be considered the most impressive built in security. Better WP Security is the bee knees of security plugins. It does it all (well, almost) including scheduled database backups. If you misssed my previous post about security WordPress, do yourself a favor and have a look: How to Secure WordPress.
Limit Login Attempts
Another security plugin that is mandatory. WordPress does not have a login failure limit by default, which means hackers can continuously attempt to hack into your admin panel. It also means they can flood your admin panel with requests which for whatever reason takes up a ton of server resources and can potentially crash yours server. This has been the root of a major wave of recent attacks on WordPress installs. Stop that by installing this plugin.
Sucuri Security – SiteCheck Malware Scanner
One last security plugin. This is an essential hardening plugin. It will lock down vulnerable directories that are often the target of hackers looking to inject malicious code into your WordPress install. This plugin also has a scanner within it that can detect if your site has already been hacked, and checks various security sites to see if your site has been reported as malicious. Extremely extremely useful!
Disqus Comment System
transcendkyle@gmail.comThe built in WordPress commenting functions suck…and they’re also another source of vulnerability in the sense that they’re typically bombed with spam. Replace the built in functions with Disqus and you get some added value by way of having your content featured on other sites (if you so choose to feature other sites on your comment panel), and it also has built in social login functions so your visitors don’t have to register with your site in order to comment on it. This is a very widely used commenting system, so many of your visitors will already be logged in when they see it.
NextScripts: Social Networks Auto-Poster
Set up your site to automatically syndicate your posts out to your social network sites easily. This plugin makes quick work of getting the word out. Set it up, connect your desired social profiles, and whenever you post you can choose to send the content right to your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Delicious, etc.
PS Disable Auto Formatting
This is actually the first plugin I install every time I set up a WordPress install. Why? Because I hate the automatic formatting that WordPress adds to pages and posts. This removes that automated formatting.
WordPress SEO
This is an awesome tool if for nothing else than the auto updating XML sitemaps which can be fed to Google, Bing / Yahoo. It can also add social tags for you, most importantly the stuff needed to get Google Authorship going. WordPress is pretty darn search engine friendly to begin with, but this takes it a step further.
Related Posts by Zemanta
I like this plugin because it gives you an instantly modern touch to your site by visually tying together your related posts. There are a variety of formats to choose from, some of them are really flashy, some are a little more straightforward. This is a great way to get people to check out another post on your site once they’ve finished reading the one they’re currently one.
Jetpack by WordPress.com
Most people that use WordPress are familiar with this one already. This is a utility knife for your blog. Tons of built in added functions including subscriptions, post by email, spelling and grammar checking, automatic shortlinks, contact form, stats, social sharing links (see them in action below) etc etc…get this one.
Don't miss these other posts...
Share this: