WordPress Tips

WordPress is the best platform for building any type of website. It’s very flexible and beginner-friendly. However, it’s default settings may not offer the function you are seeking, so you will need to look for another way to add those features.

Fortunately, the WordPress community at large has created a functionality solution known as the plugin. These are add-ons that you can easily install on your WordPress site to add the features you want. There is a high probability that at least one plugin exists to accomplish your objectives with your site.

However, there are literally 10s of thousands of plugins. Some are excellent; some are not so excellent. Wading through the morass of options can be daunting, so we at NOYO Web Development have put together a list of some of our favorite WordPress plugins for 2019.

Before we do that, let’s delve into what a plugin is, why they are so useful, and how to find them.

An Introduction to WordPress Plugins

The core WordPress platform has many features that make creating and running a website simple, even if you are a beginner. However, you may want more options than the core platform provides. This is where plugins come in.

WordPress plugins are bits of add-on software that you can install to your site. They provide additional features and functionality — sometimes making just one small change, other times implementing an entire suite of options. You can find a plugin that will add nearly anything to your site, including an online store, contact forms, or additional security features. You can even use plugins to generate leads and boost conversions.

There are thousands of plugins to choose from at various price points. We’ll talk more about where to look for them soon, but first, let’s dig a little deeper into why they’re so important.

Why Plugins Are a Useful Addition to Your WordPress Site

WordPress is a powerful and flexible solution right out of the box. However, if you wish to build a truly memorable and unique site, plugins are the right solution. This is true whether you’re running a huge c-commerce site or a personal blog.

There are plenty of reasons to consider adding plugins to your WordPress site:

• Many plugins add the specific, targeted features and functionality you need for the type of site you’re creating.
• Alternately, some plugins make the practical aspects of building a website easier.
• Finally, plugins can make your site safer and improve its performance.

In addition, WordPress has a vibrant, active community, which means there are many excellent free or low-cost plugin options.

How to Find and Choose the Best WordPress Plugins

When searching for the best plugins to suit your needs, you’ll want to look for the following things:

• Whether the specific features and/or functionality of the plugin matches what you’re looking to achieve.
• User reviews and ratings, and the plugin’s overall popularity (a popular plugin isn’t necessarily better, but it’s a good sign).
• The plugin’s price and plan options.
• How recently the plugin was updated (in general, be wary of anything that’s gone longer than six months without an update).

There are plenty of places online to find plugins, including directories, storefronts, and developers’ websites.For free plugins, we’d recommend starting with the official WordPress.org plugin directory. It has a thousands of excellent options and displays all the stats you need to make an informed choice.

If you’re still feeling a bit daunted by all of the different types of available plugins, follow our blog. Our next post will give you a list of nine of our current favorites.