4 Most Essential WordPress Plugins Ever
June 12th, 2008There are thousands of Wordpress plugins, then there are these 50 best wordpress plugins, but some wordpress plugins are most essential to run a successful blog. Though I use many wordpress plugins and widgets on this blog, if I was told to run my blog with the least possible and most essential wordpress plugins, these are my personal picks -
Wordpress Plugins I cannot blog without…
Akismet - is a powerful comment spam blocking tool that checks every new comment, trackback, or pingback that is posted to your blog, submits it to Akismet web service which runs hundreds of tests on the comment and intelligently determines if it is spam and flags it. We get thousands of automated spam comments everyday, and without Akismet, I would be spending my entire day simply deleting spam and fishing out the few valid comments. It grants you a new blogging life…
WP Super Cache - is a very fast caching module for WordPress. It generates html files that are served directly without processing heavy PHP scripts, which helps to speed up your WordPress blog significantly. It reduces the server load substantially and will help your site stay online and prevent server crashes on shared hosting services when Digg hits your site. It will also help you survive on a cheaper hosting package.
WordPress Database Backup - creates backups of your core WordPress tables as well as other tables of your choice in the same database. You can get on-demand or automated wordpress database backups, and save it to your server, computer or email. Its fast, efficient and will save years of your blogging time should your server crash or your blog is hacked. A simple mistake in the command line can cause years of hard work to go away in front of your eyes…
Google XML Sitemaps Generator - This plugin will generate a sitemaps.org compatible sitemap of your WordPress blog which is supported by Ask.com, Google, MSN Search and YAHOO. A sitemap essentialy lets search engines understand your site structure and is helpful to get all your pages indexed successfully, which will eventually get Google to your door. This plugin will generate an error-free and compatible sitemaps in seconds, will refresh with each new article and ping the big search engines in a spam-free manner.
If I got a limited choice, these are the most essential plugins I will install. I also recommend these as the first wordpress plugins for any blogger to get started with.
There are a lot of favorite wordpress plugins out there, but you can live without most of them. What are the most essential plugins you cannot blog without? If you can add to this list - name *one* in comments.
You might also like this
Comments
Good choices, though I’ll replace Akismet with Defensio. Defensio has given me much better results (98% for Defensio as opposed to 94% for Akismet).
I’ll also replace Sitemaps Generator with All-in-one SEO (though it is now abandoned by its author). Custom title rewrites mean that I can be witty in titles without compromising SEO [See my reasoning about Sitemaps below].
>A sitemap essentialy lets search engines understand your site structure and is helpful to get all your pages indexed successfully
Um, no again. If you have proper navigation structures (most blogs have) that bots can follow , sitemap is redundant.
> “It generates html files that are served directly by Apache”
Um, technically no. I think you’re aware that there are much better performing, optimized webservers, for example Litespeed (I’m on Litespeed).
There may be better than Apache, but out of every paid host I’ve ever been with, Apache is the most common.
- I have been using Akismet for several years now without any problems. And since it comes packaged with Wordpress, it has much universal usage. I agree Defensio is a good competitor. As I said these plugins are my personal picks.
- I agree All-in-one SEO is a popular plugin, but I do not use it and am able to customize most of the things it does by simple code changes suggested elsewhere on forums etc.
- I dont believe sitemaps are redundant. A good sitemap is essential for proper and deep indexing of your site. It is also essential for Google webmaster tools.
- I had mentioned Apache as it was common, but now I have removed the mention out of the text.
CommentLuv should be REQUIRED for bloggers who survive by interaction and return visitors! Far more important to hobby blogger (blobber?, hogger?) than Google XML Sitemap generator.
I love the security of getting my daily backups for four sites emailed to me! (from WordPress backup)
My #1 pick is: Ozh’s Admin Drop Down Menu, definitely. I just can’t stand a WP backend without it.
(and, btw, same comments as QOT about Akismet, Sitemaps and AllInOne Seo
Akismet is a no brainer. Only insane bloggers does not install it. LOL.
Good choices, however I’d pick Spam Karma 2 over Akismet. I find it does a better job at telling which comments are spam, and explains why. It also has an Akismet plugin for added protection (yes, a plugin for a plugin, for a content management system… a tad confusing).
Great list! I’d suggest AskApache Password Protect for every Wordpress blog. Wordpress is proving itself to be a POWERFUL CMS that does GREAT with the search engines and as such, the bad guys are always looking for a free ride.
Very cool post. We just released a new plugin that allows you to add interactive video capabilities to your blog! Enhance your blog with both basic and advanced video capabilities. Upload/ record/import videos directly to your post, edit and remix video content, enable video responses, manage and track your video content and much more…
Check it out and download it here: http://corp.kaltura.com/wordpress_video_plugin?campaign=wp-comments
Examples and pictures are on the plugin forum: http://community.kaltura.org/viewforum.php?f=4
Hi,
I just write a new plugin WP Widget Cache, which can cache the output of your blog widgets. It’s a plus to WP Super cache, especially when Google is crawling your site.
Will you please have a try, and add it to this list.
Here’s the plugin url:
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-widget-cache/
Comment on “4 Most Essential WordPress Plugins Ever”