15 Wordpress Plugins That I Can’t Live Without
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I’m obviously not the first person to write a list of WordPress plugins. However, I use some pretty interesting plugins (specifically a couple that I have not really noticed on other lists), so I thought it would be fun to take a little time to talk about fifteen of the best WordPress plugins I use. Hopefully, you will find a couple that you haven’t checked out before!
Photo Dropper: I really appreciate all of the great photography that is available on Flickr, and because I want to see it continue to grow, I always try to play by all of their rules. Fortunately for me, Photo Dropper is an awesome plugin that makes it easy to search for a Creative Commons photo on Flickr, add it to my post and have the appropriate credit links appear directly under the photo.
Platinum SEO Pack: I know everyone talks about the All-in-One SEO Pack , and while that used to be my SEO plugin of choice, once I tried the Platinum SEO Pack, I never looked back! If you want to make sure that all of your on-page SEO is taken care of for your WordPress blog, you can’t go wrong with this pack.
Referrer Detector: As I have learned throughout my journey into social media, one of the best things you can do is create a personalized experience for the people you are trying to interact with. It’s for this exact reason that I’m a big fan of Referrer Detector. When I’m bringing in visitors to my blog from a social site like Reddit, this plugin makes sure that they are greeted with a personalized welcome message and a nice reminder that positive votes are always appreciated.
Smart YouTube: While you would think that adding a YouTube video to a post would be an easy thing, it doesn’t always turn out that way. Luckily, the Smart YouTube plugin ensures that you won’t ever have another headache as a result of trying to add a YouTube video to a post.
SRG Clean Archives: By default, WordPress archives aren’t necessarily attractive or useful. However, once you add this plugin, you can have a really cool archive page just like my own.
Thumbnail Viewer: If you have heard of the Lightbox JS plugin, then you know exactly what the Thumbnail Viewer does (it creates a nice on-page popup of an image when you click a thumbnail). However, the great thing about the Thumbnail Viewer plugin is that it is lighter and more simple than the Lightbox JS plugin, so you get the same outcome without using as much of your server resources.
Tweet This: You have probably heard of Tweet This before (which adds a link that allows users to Tweet your posts to their account), but may have been skeptical of whether or not it actually works. Well, I can tell you from my personal experience that this plugin has helped some of my posts go viral on Twitter, so I definitely give it two thumbs up!
What Would Seth Godin Do: Works like the Referrer Detector, but instead of promoting a social web site, it greets new visitors and suggests that they subscribe to your RSS feed.
WP Ajax Edit Comments: In addition to allowing me to edit comments, this slick plugin allows other commenters to edit their own comments over a limited amount of time (which is great if they think of something they want to add right after they hit the Submit button).
WP Super Cache: Not only have I been lucky enough to attract some major traffic from social media web sites, but I have been even more fortunate to avoid a major server meltdown. Without a doubt, one of the main reasons for this is the WP Super Cache plugin, which has ensured that I have gotten the full benefits each time I have hit a social media homepage.
WP DBManager: This may not be the most exciting plugin, but it can really save you. I know I have invested a lot of time into this blog, and having this plugin ensures that I don’t lose everything I have created as a result of a database meltdown!
Limit Login Attempts: While the WordPress team is always working to make WordPress a more secure platform, there will always people who try to hack their way into blogs. Therefore, it makes me feel better to have security themed plugins like Limit Login Attempts, which can help deter people with bad intentions.
commentluv: I appreciate every comment that I receive on this blog, and as a result, I like to show appreciation to all of the people who take time to contribute. Therefore, commentluv is the perfect solution for me, because it displays a link to the latest blog post of the person who left a comment.
Brian’s Threaded Comments: If you are like me and do your best to respond directly to your commenters, you should add Brian’s Threaded Comments. It makes it easy for you to engage directly with your commenters, and also allows them to engage with each other in an organized manner.
Gravatar: If you decide not to install Brian’s Threaded Comments but would still like your users to have an avatar displayed next to their name, make sure you get the Gravatar plugin added to your blog.
As always, I love when you guys and gals contribute to my blog (just see #13 on the list), so feel free to drop a comment with a couple of your favorite plugins that I didn’t put on my list!
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Tags: Wordpress plugins
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Ann Smarty
Kerry Rego
Thanks for sharing this list because I didn’t know about some of them like Referrer Detector. I’m looking forward to add WP Ajax Edit Comments, commentluv and Gravatar to my site as well.
Christian,
Referrer detector is indeed very cool. Especially if you are very active in popular social media site it gives you that extra edge. Of course the other are pretty cool as well. I hope you enjoy using them.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Some of my Favorites are:
Akismet
Add to Any: Share/Save/Bookmark Button
All in One SEO Pack
Do Follow
WP Digg This
Thanks for pointing out Photo Dropper Gerald. I just downloaded and installed it after reading your post, and I can already tell that it is going to save me a ton of time!
Tyler,
No problem. I know you’re a big fan of flickr so hopefully that will save you a little time.
Thanks for the list!
It was new to me that the support of All-in-One SEO Pack has stopped.
Have allways been happy with the plugin, but will look info this. Nice to have a alternative like.
Steen Seo Öhman’s last blog post..Google image search
Steen,
All in one SEO pick is pretty good but the platinum SEO pack does have some additional features as well.
Thanks for liking my Platinum SEO plugin.I am glad that you liked it.
Thanks for the list! I’m going to check them out!
Tracy’s last blog post..Shangri-La Diet Week 2.5
Your welcome Tracy. Haven’t seen you around too much lately. Don’t be a stranger.
Thanks for stopping by.
Like your blog. I use some of these and some similar ones but I always want to know if there is something better out there. I like your add comment. Is that part of your site or a widget I can add?
Joe Etheridge’s last blog post..‘Homeless Man’ captures Pix of Michelle Obama On ‘his Cellphone’
Do you mean reply to comment?
“Tweet this” is new for me – I am going to definitely try it. Looks like a great alternative to social bookmarking plugins I’ve been aware of…
Ann Smarty’s last blog post..Search Cloudlet Adds Twitter Tag Clouds
Ann,
I was previously using sociable but I like the way tweet this look better and it’s pretty simple to use. I hope you enjoy using it as well.
Gerald,
Thanks for all the great plug-in references. I’m always looking for different things to try and your list shows 3 or 4 tools that I wasn’t aware of previously. Keep up the good work.
P.S. Here’s a resource for you to automatically update your copyright date.
Cheers!
I’m glad some of these are new to you and I hope that you find them useful.
Thanks for the resource and thanks for commenting.
A few I use and a few I found, thanks! I’ve been meaning to do this post forever lol.
In regards to AIO SEO – Unless it was dropped a second time and very recently, it is being supported still, and better then before.
In regards to it Platinum being better and having more features – after asking MANY that said that to actually show me a comparison, one finally complied.
Honestly, he only pointed out one feature it had that AIO didn’t. I don’t recall what the feature was, because it did not impress me in a way that I thought it was essential.
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..2 Updates Before You Flood Me With Emails
The biggest advantage to the Platinum SEO Pack is that it integrates the features of the Robots META plugin, eliminating the need to install both All-in-one SEO Pack and Robots META. On some sites I have installed AIO SEO & Robots META and on others I use the Platinum SEO Pack. They’re all useful!
Alysson’s last blog post..Use Twitter As A Tool – Don’t Be One
Alysson,
Thanks for the insight.
Dennis,
Hope you find the new plugins useful. Regarding the All in on SEO pack, my intention is not to discredit that particular plugin mostly just sharing the one that I use.
Thanks for commenting and for your continued support.
Oh I know that; just clearing up a couple things.
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..2 Updates Before You Flood Me With Emails
Great list, definitely downloading some of them.
Silas’s last blog post..New Battery Technology Increases Capacity By 10 Times
I’m a total WordPress plugin whore…and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
I wrote a post that included a number of my favorites back in January: Hi, I’m Alysson and I Am Addicted to WordPress Plugins. I’ve since added a number of others to my core plugin package – the most noticeable addition being Joost’s Sociable.
Alysson’s last blog post..Use Twitter As A Tool – Don’t Be One
Alysson,
I believe I remember seeing that on your blog. Not sure if I read it or not so I’m going to check it out now! I think I’m also addicted to Wordpress plugins do you think maybe there is a special support group for us?
If there isn’t already a support group, there should be! Too bad we’d have to indulge my other addiction – Twitter – in order to get the word out about it!
Alysson’s last blog post..Search Engine Optimization Jacksonville – Hometown Scams
Great list !! i’ll try out some of these !!
Abhishek’s last blog post..Still Following Idle Twitter user?
Let me know how they work out for you. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I absolutely love Referrer Detector. I use it on one of my blogs, and I know it helps the content get pushed even more.
I really like the referrer detector as well. It’s a great way to remind social site users to vote up if they like your content.
Thanks for adding Ajax Edit Comments to this list
I’m hoping I’ll be able to sway you towards checking out my other plugins too
Ajay’s last blog post..WP Ajax Edit Comments 2.3.0.0 released
Devanga Vivaha.com is an exclusive matrimonial portal for Telugu Devanga community people across India. The portal has the exclusive members who belong to Telugu Devanga community and is interested in matrimonial services.
Oh I was looking for WP Ajax Edit Comments plugin. Thanks for putting this list together up for us.
Salwa’s last blog post..Why “Nofollow” Tags Won’t Work!
You’re welcome. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Thanks for sharing this list (and tweeting it too) I am glad i follow you. What would seth godin do is really impressive.
Caught your list via a RT from a friend. Pretty good list. I had no idea that All in one SEO wasn’t being supported anymore. I’ve installed Platinum on 2 of my 8 websites and I was testing to see which one I liked more. Sounds like I won’t have much of an option soon. Thanks for the heads up!
Scott Hack’s last blog post..Can you dodge a wrench?
Unless the 2nd guy dropped it very recently, it is still supported.
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..Seeking April Comment Contest Sponsors!
Oh ok thanks for clearing that up Dennis.
THANK YOU. This was so helpful! I’m going to retweet this and spend the weekend updating my WordPress blog
Bobby Pens’s last blog post..Sad, Unfortunate Truths about Communication
You’re very welcome. I’m glad you found it useful.
Thank you gman! This is a very helpful list, especially for us newbies. I will definitely be incorporating a few of these into my blog.
One plugin I recently discovered is: Target Blank In Posts And Comments. I was inserting this manually prior to my discovery so this plugin really saves me a lot of time.
I’m interested in adding the Avatar plugin but it looks like it’s only supported up to WP 2.5? Is this what you’ve found as well?
Also, is there a plugin for the “notify me of follow up comments via e-email” that you have below? That’s a great feature.
Thanks again!
joli’s last blog post..The Crafty & Creative Mama List
Joli,
I am actually not using the avatar plugin because it is already part of the brians threaded comments plugin. Meaningt he avatar feature is built into the Brian’s threaded comments plugin. As for the notify of follow up comments that is a plugin. Contact Commenters Wordpress Plugin
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I hope you found some of these plugins useful.
This is a great, comprehensive list. I can’t wait to try some of these plug-ins out. SmartYouTube has already treated me well and is now “playing nicely” with my WordPress!!
Sarah Merion’s last blog post..Guerilla Marketing in 8 Minutes
Sarah,
I’m glad we got your YouTube video and wordpress playing nicely. I’m always happy to help. Skype me anytime.
Great list – I am new to Wordpress, and I have to say it is exciting to see the tools available to both improve the look and functionality of my site. Thanks!
Eriq Powers’s last blog post..Making a Difference
WP Greet Box is a good one that is similar to referrer detector. I also like Sociable for adding links for sharing.
Jonathan’s last blog post..Soccer Coach Punches Referee: Video
Nice list, I’m already a fan of Thumbnail viewer and will definitely be checking out a few you’ve mentioned here.
Thanks.
squareart’s last blog post..I love this Japanese Mayo design
Guerilla marketing in today’s economy is everything. If your interested in web optimization for your site, there is a free site for uploading video ads for your business, they also have image uploads if you are not yet up to videos. The more sites you can link to the greater your market will be. They have a free link exchange as well.
http://adwido.com
Great posting Wordpress addons, but why don’t you list the Disqus addon for wordpress? Which lets you do on the spot editing, login to Facebook, Twitter, Disqus or or what you have it, threaded comments and moderator highlights, plus a few more perks. And it is one addon instead of several.
Shawn,
actually since the latest version of wordpress a couple of these plugins (gravatar, threaded comments) aren’t needed anymore because they are now part of Wordpress. But to answer your question. I don’t care much for services like disqus or intense debate. While they seems pretty cool on the surface and do have some cool features there is just something about hosting my comments on someone elses server that just don’t sit well with me. I’m just really not comfortable with that idea.
search engine and things related to it are always evolving, so its kind of hard to stick with the same plan as you always have to adapt to new rules. specially with google. any way thanks for the post.