Before we get into the best WordPress plugins out there, let’s cover a couple of definitions for the uninitiated among us.
WordPress is the most widely used open source content management system (CMS) in the world. While often used as a blog, WordPress is strong enough to run entire websites. So it’s not just a blogging platform. WordPress is powered by PHP and MySQL, and has cool features like templates and plugins that make creating great websites relatively easy. WordPress is used by 13% of the 1,000,000 largest websites in the world, which is no small feat when you consider the variety of options available.
Plugins are simply applications that increase the capabilities of WordPress and make it better to work with. Most plugins are free.
Here are the best WordPress plugins out there. My opinions are very subjective, but these are plugins I want you to know about.
#1: All-in-One SEO Package
All-in-one SEO package simplifies on-page search engine optimization. For this reason, it is my first choice. With this plugin, it has never been easier to add meta tags like title tags, meta descriptions, and keywords. This is a good thing, as many websites don’t have these crucial elements (and, as a result, online lead generation and/or online sales are lost).
#2: Askimet
Askimet allows you to stop moderating comments. It automatically checks comments left on your website against Askimet’s web service to see if they appear to be spam or not. If it’s spam, they throw the comment away. To keep the service honest, you can analyze the spam you catch to make sure the plugin is doing its job accurately. There are two things that make using this plugin vital. First, your readers will never have to type a CAPTCHA again. Two, your readers will never have to wait for their comment to be moderated again (this drives me crazy when we visit other blogs).
#3: Google XML Sitemaps
Google XML Sitemaps will produce a special XML sitemap that will allow search engines to index your blog. If that sentence gives you a headache, just know this: it makes it easier for Google to read your website. That’s good. If Google can’t or won’t read your website, that’s bad. You want them to read it so they can share your website with people who use the Internet. Consider this crucial WordPress plugin if you enjoy exchanging your work and/or skills for money.
#4 Subscribe to Reloaded Comments
Consider this a cherry on top of your delicious WordPress ice cream. Subscribe to Comments Reloaded will change the way people use your blog. Without it, people just stop by, leave a comment, and never come back. With this plugin, your readers can click a box that says they want to be notified of follow-up comments by email. This email notification (in some cases) will cause the reader to come back and leave a comment. This will give you more web traffic, more comments, and make your blog more conversational.
#5: Tweet Meme
Guy Kawasaki once called this the most important button on the Internet. It’s probably not on that level today, but it’s certainly still very useful when it comes to getting your message out to the masses. Twitter has proven to be a very beneficial viral marketing tool. If you have something important or interesting to say, chances are Twitter will do a lot to get your voice heard. Within the Twitter sphere, there is nothing more valuable than a ReTweet. A ReTweet occurs when someone who reads your content relays it to all of their followers. When this happens, the magic of viral marketing happens. TweetMeme makes it convenient for your blog readers to retweet your content, which will bring you more traffic, more comments, and (hopefully) more business.
So there you have it. Those are, in my opinion, the five best WordPress plugins out there.